Roehrig, Terence

Abstract
The Northern Limit Line (NLL) is the disputed maritime boundary between North Korea [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – DPRK] and South Korea [Republic of Korea – ROK] in the Yellow (West) Sea that was drawn sometime after the Korean War by the United Nations Command (UNC). The line has been the location of several clashes between the two Koreas, most recently the sinking of the ROK Navy Cheonan in March 2010 and the artillery exchange around Yeonpyeong Island the following November. The NLL remains a serious flashpoint for conflict with fears that a relatively small incident could escalate into a larger more violent conflagration.
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