(With Map) TOKYO, Feb 9 (KUNA) -- North Korea has completed construction of a base for its hovercraft near a tense maritime border with South Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday, citing a government source.
"After analyzing recent satellite pictures, we concluded that North Korea has built a hovercraft base in Goampo," the source said, referring to a region close to the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea.
"South Korea's Northwest Islands Defense Command is working on responses to potential infiltration by hovercraft," the source added.
"Currently, waters off the coast of Goampo are all frozen. But, we are still keeping a close eye since North Korea may deploy hovercraft there once the weather gets warmer." Military officials say some hovercraft that had been based at a different base farther up north, about 300 kilometers from South Korea's Baengnyeong Island, will likely be moved to Goampo, according to the report. The new base can hold between 60 and 70 hovercraft.
The discovery of the new North Korean base came as the South's top military commander toured a key Marine Corps unit on Baengnyeong Island, which lies just south of the NLL. Army Gen. Jung Seung-jo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the Sixth Marine Brigade Thursday, encouraging on troops to stay guarded against North Korea.
Late last year and again in January this year, the unit deployed Cobra attack helicopters in drills simulating infiltration of North Korean hovercraft, the report added. (end) mk.asa KUNA 091224 Feb 12NNNN