Chronology of North Korean attacks and clashes with rival South Korea

Chronology of North Korean attacks on South Korea

A timeline of North Korean attacks against South Korea. Seoul says the March 26 of one of its navy ships near their maritime border was caused by an external explosion, leaving open the possibility that a North Korean torpedo or mine may have caused the disaster. The two Koreas remain in a state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

— January 1967: South Korean naval ship patrolling waters near maritime border sinks after being attacked by North Korean artillery. Thirty-nine of the 79 sailors on board are killed, 40 injured.

— January 1968: Thirty-one North Korean commandos storm South Korea’s presidential Blue House in failed assassination attempt against President Park Chung-hee. Seven South Koreans are killed, including Seoul’s police chief.

— December 1969: North Korean spy hijacks and reroutes a South Korean airliner to North Korea and takes hostages. Thirty-nine hostages are released after more than two months following Red Cross negotiations.

— August 1974: Attempted shooting of President Park by North Korean agent as Park gives a speech; Park’s wife is killed.

— October 1983: South Korea’s President Chun Doo-hwan narrowly escapes a bombing in Myanmar that kills 21 people, including several government ministers. Perpetrator claims North Korean ties but Pyongyang denies his claims.

— November 1987: Bombing of South Korean airliner kills 115 passengers and crew. The plane had left Baghdad for Bangkok via transit in Abu Dhabi. Two North Korean spies were found responsible.

— December 1991: Two Koreas sign nonaggression pact.

— June 1999: Six North Korean patrol boats repeatedly cross the Yellow Sea maritime border over nine days, prompting exchange of fire. South Korea says 20 to 30 North Korean sailors are killed, seven South Korean sailors wounded.

— June 2002: Firefight sinks South Korean boat; six South Korean sailors die during the salvage operation.

— November 2009: South Korea says one North Korean died after a brief exchange of fire between the two sides in the Yellow Sea near the maritime border.