South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea's military said Tuesday. The incident occurred at the heavily fortified border known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The violation took place when some North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line that separates the two countries on Sunday.
The North Korean soldiers, who were engaged in unspecified work on the northern side of the border, carried construction tools and some were armed. Upon crossing the border, South Korea's military responded by firing warning shots and issuing broadcasts. The North Korean soldiers promptly returned to their territory without further incident.
South Korea's assessment indicates that the North Korean soldiers likely did not intentionally cross the border, as the area is wooded and the demarcation signs were not clearly visible. Reports suggest that approximately 20-30 North Korean soldiers entered South Korean territory about 50 meters after potentially losing their way.
The DMZ, spanning 248 kilometers in length and 4 kilometers in width, is the most heavily armed border in the world. It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines and guarded by various security measures on both sides, a legacy of the Korean War.
Following the incident, South Korea resumed anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts from its border loudspeakers in response to North Korea's recent balloon launches carrying manure and rubbish across the border. North Korea, in turn, installed its own border loudspeakers but has not activated them yet.
The tensions between the two Koreas have escalated due to the tit-for-tat actions involving speakers and balloons, which are reminiscent of Cold War-style psychological warfare. These actions have further strained relations as talks over North Korea's nuclear ambitions remain stalled.
