South Korea’s military said Saturday it fired warning shots earlier this week after several North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The incident has reignited tensions, with Pyongyang accusing Seoul of deliberate provocation.
According to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the North Korean soldiers crossed the border on Tuesday while working in the DMZ, prompting South Korean troops to fire more than 10 warning shots. The soldiers then withdrew to the northern side of the border.
North Korea’s state media, citing Army Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol, described the event as a “premeditated and deliberate provocation.” Ko claimed South Korean forces used a machine gun against North Korean troops engaged in sealing off the frontier, warning that such actions risk pushing the situation to an “uncontrollable phase.”
This was the second such border incident in recent months, following a similar episode in April when North Korean troops briefly crossed the DMZ. Pyongyang has repeatedly vowed to permanently seal the southern frontier, destroying unused cross-border roads and railways last year as part of its efforts.
General Ko warned that if Seoul continues to obstruct the North’s border fortification project, Pyongyang would treat it as a “deliberate military provocation” and respond accordingly.
The incident comes as South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, has sought to improve ties with Pyongyang by building “military trust” and restoring dialogue. However, North Korea has dismissed his overtures, accusing Seoul of pursuing a “dual approach” — calling for talks while conducting joint military drills with the United States.
Earlier this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the rapid expansion of his country’s nuclear arsenal, citing ongoing US-South Korean military exercises. His sister also rejected Seoul as a “diplomatic partner,” saying President Lee “is not the sort of man who will change the course of history.”
