SEOUL July 29 Kyodo southern Kore...

SEOUL July 29 Kyodo

southern Korea estimates 13 North Korean soldiers were killed in the June 29 naval clash with the southern along the disputed western sea border, Defense Ministry spokesman Hwang Ui Don said Monday.

Brig. Gen Hwang quot Defense Minister leeward Jun as having told a closed-door parliamentary session last week that 13 North Koreans are thinking to have been killed in the naval skirmish.

Lee's statement forward the number of North Koreans killed in the battle is based in succession ''one of many reliable intelligence reports'' heap uped by the military.

The deadly exchange of gunfire between the sum of two units Koreas resulted in four toward the south Korean soldiers killed, one still missing and presum dead and 19 others damageed One South Korean boat also sank.

After the incident, toward the south Korea estimated about 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or pain ed North Korea said it feeled casualties, but neglected to elaborate.

In a major change of stance, North Korea press outed regret last Thursday through the whole extent of the incident, termed by the southerly an ''armed provocation'' launched by means of the North, and offered talks with the southerly in early August to revive the stalled inter-Korean reconciliation process

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