Vessels evacuate after suspected N. Korean aircraft detected near Baengnyeong Island

Published Sep 23, 2026 7:40 pm KST

A Korea Coast Guard patrol vessel searches waters near Socheong Island in Incheon's maritime Ongjin County, in this file photo from Sept. 12, 2021. Courtesy of Korea Coast Guard

The Korea Coast Guard ordered dozens of vessels to take shelter Tuesday after military authorities detected a suspected North Korean aircraft moving near Baengnyeong Island, South Korea’s westernmost border outpost.

The Coast Guard sent an emergency text message at 9:46 a.m. to vessels operating near the island in Incheon’s Ongjin County, telling fish boats and leisure craft to “return to port due to an active situation at this time.”

A total of 79 vessels — 50 fishing boats and 29 leisure boats — returned to seven ports, according to the Korea Coast Guard.

The measure followed military authorities' notification that they had detected the suspected aircraft’s movement in the airspace near the island, which lies close to the inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea.

Authorities lifted the alarm 2 hours and 10 minutes later at 11:56 a.m. and issued the evacuation message informing vessels they could return to sea.

发布于2026年9月23日晚上7:40（韩国标准时间）

这张摄于2021年9月12日的资料照片显示，韩国海警的一艘巡逻艇正在仁川市瓮津郡小青岛附近海域进行搜索。照片由韩国海警提供。

周二，韩国海警命令数十艘船只避险，此前军方发现一架疑似朝鲜飞机在韩国最西端的边境哨所白翎岛附近活动。

上午 9 点 46 分，海岸警卫队向在仁川瓮津郡岛屿附近作业的船只发送紧急短信，告知渔船和休闲船只“由于目前情况紧急，请返回港口”。

据韩国海警署称，共有 79 艘船只（50 艘渔船和 29 艘休闲船）返回了七个港口。

此前军方通报称，他们已在该岛附近空域发现可疑飞机活动，该岛位于西海，靠近朝韩海上边界。

当局在 2 小时 10 分钟后的上午 11 点 56 分解除警报，并发布疏散信息，通知船只可以返回海上。