From correspondents in Seoul, South Korea, 12:02 PM IST

Warships belonging to North and South Korea clashed off their west coast Tuesday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a defence official in Seoul.

A North Korean patrol ship crossed the Northern Limit Line, the countries' disputed maritime border in the Yellow Sea, prompting a naval vessel from the South to fire warning shots, the unnamed official told Yonhap.

The North Korean ship returned fire near Baekryeong Island, he said, adding that while it apparently was damaged, there were no immediate reports of South Korean casualties.

Deadly sea battles took place between the two Koreas in 1999 and 2002 near the Northern Limit Line.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)