Vessel sunk in June to go on public show

A relic of the June 29 inter-Korean sea skirmish will be displayed for public viewing Friday.

The South Korean Navy patrol boat, which sank after the deadly naval clash in the Yellow Sea and was salvaged two months later, will be on display at the navy's 2d Fleet headquarters in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi province.

The patrol boat Chamsuri-357 was raised on Aug. 21. At that time, the navy said it would repair the boat and put it back into service guarding the maritime border if possible. But yesterday the navy said that the damage was too extensive to be repaired.

Gunfire ripped a hole bigger than a soccer ball in the hull of the 150-ton boat. The North once threatened to impede the salvage operation, but did not do so.

Six South Korean sailors were killed and 18 were injured during the battle.