2/04/2011 04:50:00 pm

Conflict Between 1953-2010

The site of the Axe Murder Incident
February 1958 - A South Korean airliner is hijacked by North Korean agents and flown to Pyongyang. 28 crew and passengers were released in March, though 8 passengers stayed in the North.
 

April 1965 - A US reconnaissance plane is attacked and damaged by two North Korean MiG-17s in the Sea of Japan, just 50 miles from the North Korean shore.


1966-1969 - The Korean DMZ Conflict/Second Korean War: Numerous skirmishes in the DMZ result in 299 ROKA, 397 KPA and 43 US soldiers killed.

17th January 1968 -The Blue House Raid: 31 North Korean commandos secretly cross the DMZ on a mission to assassinate ROK President Park Chung-hee. While attempting to infiltrate the presidential residence, The Blue House, a firefight broke out with South Korean police and the commandos retreated back to the DMZ. 66 South Koreans, 3 Americans and 28 North Korean commandos were killed.

January 1968 - US Navy Research ship USS Pueblo is illegally captured by the North Korean navy in the Sea of Japan. One US sailor is killed during the attack. The remaining 83 crew members were later released in December, though the USS Pueblo remains in North Korean custody.

October-November 1968 - Around 130 North Korean commandos land on the eastern shore of South Korea with the intention of attacking the ROK government. After being discovered around 110 were killed, 7 were captured, and 13 escaped back to North Korea. 20 South Koreans were also killed.

March 1969 - A South Korean police officer is killed during a KPA coastal raid in Gangwon-do. Seven US soldiers are also killed in the DMZ.

April 1969 - A US reconnaissance plane is shot down 90 miles east of North Korea, killing 31 crew members.

November 1969 - Four US soldiers are killed in the DMZ.

April 1970 - In Geumchon, south of the DMZ, three KPA soldiers are killed and five ROKA soldiers are wounded in a shootout.

June 1970 - The North Korean navy seizes a broadcast vessel from the South near the border. Its 20 crewmembers are captured.


January 1974 - A North Korean assassin fires shots at ROK President Park Chung-hee during a speech at the National Theatre of Korea. Although Park was unhurt, his wife was killed.

February 1974 - Two South Korean fishing vessels are sunk and 30 crewmembers are captured by the North Korean Navy.

June 1976 - An incursion south of the DMZ in Gangwon-do leaves three dead from the North and six from the South.

18th August 1976 - The Axe Murder Incident: Two US soldiers are murdered by KPA soldiers in the DMZ Joint Security Area while attempting to cut down a poplar tree. The US later cut down the tree with massive troop presence as a show of force in Operation Paul Bunyan. As a result KPA, ROKA and US troops no longer walk among each other in the JSA, but must keep to their sides of the Demarcation Line.

ROKS Cheonan


July 1977 - An American Chinook helicopter is shot down after crossing over the DMZ into North Korea. Three US crewmen were killed, while the one survivor was captured and later released.

October 1979 - Three North Koreans enter the eastern DMZ. One is killed.

December 1979 - US soldiers accidentally enter a North Korean minefield in the DMZ, leaving one dead and 3 wounded.

March 1981 - Three North Koreans try cross the DMZ into South Korea. One is killed.

July 1981 - Three North Koreans are killed while trying to enter the South via the Imjin River.

May 1982 - Two North Koreans are caught on the east coast of South Korea. One was killed.


October 1983 - North Korean agents attempt to kill ROK President Chun Doo-hwan in a bomb attack during his visit to Rangoon, Myanmar. Although the attack failed to kill Chun, four ROK government officials were killed.

November 1984 - Vasily Matusak, a Soviet defector, sprints into South Korea in the Joint Security Area while being pursued by KPA troops. The ensuing firefight leaves three KPA soldiers and one ROKA soldier dead.


November 1987 - North Korean agents bomb a South Korean passenger jet. All 115 crew and passengers are killed.

May 1992 - Three North Korean infiltrators in ROKA uniforms are shot dead in Cheolwon, Gangwon-do.

December 1994 - A US helicopter crosses into North Korea and is shot down.

May 1995 - North Korean forces attack a South Korean fishing boat, killing three crewmembers.


October 1995 - Two North Koreans are attacked while crossing the Imjin River. One is killed.

April 1996 - Several hundred KPA soldiers cross into the DMZ and Joint Security Area.

May 1996 - Seven KPA soldiers cross the DMZ then retreat when fired upon.

May 1996 - A standoff ensues around the Northern Limit Line between the North and South Korean navies. This happens again a month later.

April 1997 - Five North Korean soldiers cross the eastern DMZ and fire on ROKA positions.

June 1997 - Three North Korean vessels attack South Korean vessels two miles south of the Northern Limit Line.

July 1997 - Fourteen KPA soldiers cross the DMZ leading to an extended firefight with ROKA forces.

Yeonpyeong Island

June 1999 - The First Battle of Yeonpyeong: A series of clashes between North and South Korean vessels occur near the Northern Limit Line west of the peninsula. One North Korean vessel is sunk, killing around 20-30 Northern sailors.

October 2000 - Two US aircraft accidentally cross the DMZ during a military exercise.

2001 - North Korean vessels briefly cross the Northern Limit Line no less than twelve times.

November 2001 - KPA and ROKA troops exchange fire in the DMZ.

June 2002 - The Second Battle of Yeonpyeong: Further clashes between North and South navy vessels Northern Limit Line result in the four South Korean sailors killed, one North Korean vessel sunk, and an unknown number of North Korean deaths.

November 2002 - A Northern vessel crosses the Northern Limit Line, but withdraws after coming under fire from South Korean forces.

February 2003 - A North Korean fighter jet crosses the Northern Limit Line. It retreats after being intercepted by South Korean fighters.

March 2003 - A US reconnaissance plane is intercepted by North Korean fighters over the Sea of Japan.

July 2003 - KPA and ROKA soldiers briefly exchange fire in the DMZ.

November 2004 - Several North Korean vessels cross the Northern Limit Line and are attacked by South Korean forces before withdrawing.

May 2006 - Two KPA soldiers cross the DMZ into South Korea. They return to the north after ROKA forces fire warning shots.

July 2006 - KPA and ROKA soldiers briefly exchange fire at a South Korean outpost near Yanggu.

October 2006 - KPA soldiers briefly cross the DMZ but retreat after ROKA soldiers fire warning shots.

October 2010 - An ROKA outpost exchanges several shots with KPA soldiers in the DMZ.

November 2009 - The Battle of Daecheong: Northern and Southern naval vessels exchange fire around the Northern Limit Line. Several North Korean sailors are killed when their gunboat is hit.

March 2010 - South Korean corvette Cheonan is sunk near Baengnyeong Island. 46 sailors are killed. Although North Korea denies involvement, an international investigation concludes that the Cheonan was likely sunk by a North Korean torpedo.

November 2010 - Following a South Korean military exercise, North Korean forces bombard Yeonpyeong Island with artillery. Two ROK marines and two South Korean civilians were killed. The attack destroys numerous houses and causes widespread fires across much of the island. ROKA forces return fire with artillery, killing an unknown number of North Koreans.