North Korean soldiers cross tense DMZ border, South Korea fires warning shots
South Korea’s military said about 10 North Korean soldiers returned to the North’s territory after the warning shots were fired
South Korea’s military said on Tuesday that it had fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers violated the military demarcation line before returning.
“Our military conducted warning broadcasts and warning shots after about 10 North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line (MDL) in the eastern area of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) around 5.00pm local time,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a text message to reporters.
“Our military is closely monitoring the North Korean military’s activity and taking necessary measures according to the operational procedures,” JCS said.
Some of the North Korean soldiers were armed, according to the South Korean military.
Bloodshed and violent confrontations have occasionally occurred at the heavily fortified border, called the Demilitarized Zone. But when North Korean troops briefly violated the border in June last year and prompted South Korea to fire warning shots, it did not escalate into a major source of tensions. South Korean officials assessed that the soldiers did not deliberately commit the border intrusion, and the site was a wooded area and military demarcation line signs there weren’t clearly visible. South Korea said the North Koreans were carrying construction tools.
The motive for Tuesday’s border crossing by North Korean soldiers wasn’t immediately clear.