Tension between Koreas

South Korea's Navy fired warning shots toward a North Korean fishing boat near their disputed sea border, the Defence Ministry said yesterday, the latest sign of tension on the divided peninsula ahead of next week's Group of 20 summit in Seoul.

The ministry said the boat violated the western maritime boundary for about two hours before returning to North Korean waters.

The maritime border, the scene of three deadly skirmishes between the Koreas, is a key flashpoint because the North does not recognise the United Nations line drawn at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

South Korea is bracing for any possible North Korean moves to sabotage next week's Group of 20 summit of leading rich and developing countries.

The North has a track record of provocations during times when world attention is focused on Seoul.