UNC says around 30 N. Korean troops crossed inter-Korean border recently, triggering S. Korean warning shots

UNC says around 30 N. Korean troops crossed inter-Korean border recently, triggering S. Korean warning shots

South Korea has confirmed that its military fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the heavily-fortified border between the two countries. The incident, which took place earlier in the week, occurred as new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed Seoul for a visit to Tokyo and Washington.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), some North Korean troops working in the border region crossed the military demarcation line between the two countries at around 15:00 local time in Seoul on Tuesday (07:00 BST). The soldiers later moved back to the north of the line [1].

North Korean state media described the shots as a "deliberate provocation" and accused Seoul of risking "uncontrollable" tensions. The incident comes amid ongoing efforts by North Korea to permanently seal its border with the South. A strip of no-man's land called the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separates the north and south, with intrusions often increasing tensions. The DMZ border is not fenced and the signposts are obscured by dense vegetation [1].

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In recent weeks, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has rebuffed efforts towards reconciliation made by Lee's government. The South Korean military had earlier suspended its loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the border to North Korea as part of a bid to "restore trust" between the two sides. Pyongyang considers these broadcasts an act of war and has threatened to blow them up in the past [1].

The two Koreas have been technically at war since the Korean War ended in 1953. Despite the June election victory of Lee, who had campaigned on improving inter-Korean ties, Pyongyang has been dismissive of Seoul. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and the delicate nature of the situation along the border [1].

References:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn85pvv13e8o