South Korea confirmed that it issued warning shots towards North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the heavily fortified border earlier this week. Pyongyang condemned the action, calling it a "deliberate provocation" and warned Seoul of escalating tensions. The incident surfaced as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung prepared for an international trip to Tokyo and Washington.
Recently, North Korea has escalated its rhetoric, particularly following the dismissal of reconciliation overtures by Lee's administration. This incident occurred amidst North Korea's ongoing efforts to fortify its border with the South, particularly within the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that has long served as a buffer between the two nations.
According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the border breach occurred on Tuesday at approximately 15:00 local time, with North Korean soldiers quickly retreating past the military demarcation line. State media reported that North Korean Army Lt Gen Ko Jong Chol claimed more than ten warning shots were fired using a machine gun in response. He described the actions as a "very serious prelude" that heightens the risk of war, given the significant military presence on both sides of the border.
Despite President Lee's campaign pledges to improve relations, his government faces skepticism from Pyongyang. Earlier, South Korea had even temporarily suspended loudspeaker broadcasts targeting North Korea, a move intended to "restore trust" following heightened provocations. These broadcasts are deemed acts of warfare by the North, which has threatened retaliation in the past. The Korean Peninsula remains divided since the end of the Korean War in 1953, with no peace treaty concluded, leaving the nations technically at war.
Recently, North Korea has escalated its rhetoric, particularly following the dismissal of reconciliation overtures by Lee's administration. This incident occurred amidst North Korea's ongoing efforts to fortify its border with the South, particularly within the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that has long served as a buffer between the two nations.
According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the border breach occurred on Tuesday at approximately 15:00 local time, with North Korean soldiers quickly retreating past the military demarcation line. State media reported that North Korean Army Lt Gen Ko Jong Chol claimed more than ten warning shots were fired using a machine gun in response. He described the actions as a "very serious prelude" that heightens the risk of war, given the significant military presence on both sides of the border.
Despite President Lee's campaign pledges to improve relations, his government faces skepticism from Pyongyang. Earlier, South Korea had even temporarily suspended loudspeaker broadcasts targeting North Korea, a move intended to "restore trust" following heightened provocations. These broadcasts are deemed acts of warfare by the North, which has threatened retaliation in the past. The Korean Peninsula remains divided since the end of the Korean War in 1953, with no peace treaty concluded, leaving the nations technically at war.
