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First Battle of Yeonpyeong
Part of the Korean War Crab wars
Date June 15, 1999 Location Northern Limit Line, Yellow Sea
Belligerents
Korean People's Navy	Republic of Korea Navy
Casualties and losses
1 torpedo boat sunk, 1 patrol boat severely damaged, 4 patrol boats moderately damaged, ~30 killed, ~70 wounded	1 corvette slightly damaged, 1 patrol boat slightly damaged, 9 wounded

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Template:FixBunching The First Battle of Yeonpyeong was a naval battle involving vessels of North and South Korea on June 15, 1999. It was fought twelve nautical miles off the island of Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea. The encounter is part of what is known as the Crab wars, due to the setting within crabbing grounds.

The South Korean government and various new agencies issued reports which stated that three North Korean torpedo boats and two patrol boats escorted a group of fishing boats into South Korean fishing grounds. The North Koreans were intercepted by several South Korean patrol boats which attempted to ram the North Korean patrol boats but were unsuccessful. After a second attempt at ramming; the North Koreans opened fire followed by the South Koreans. A prolonged engagement ensued and two North Korean vessels were sunk with a loss of an estimated thirty men killed and seventy wounded. Two South Korean patrol boats received "light damage" according to the South Korean government's investigation. Minor incidents and incursions concerning fishing in the area have since continued, including another naval skirmish in 2002 known as the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong and another in 2009 known as the Battle of Daecheong.

• "Seoul: Engagement... to continue despite deadly Korean naval battle"