South Korea confirmed it fired warning shots earlier this week at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the fortified border. Pyongyang denounced the act as a “deliberate provocation,” warning Seoul of pushing tensions toward an “uncontrollable” phase.
The disclosure came as new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left for visits to Tokyo and Washington. Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un’s sister rejected Seoul’s reconciliation attempts, signaling worsening ties.
The incident occurred in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), where intrusions often spark disputes. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korean troops crossed the military demarcation line on Tuesday afternoon but later withdrew.
North Korea’s Lt Gen Ko Jong Chol claimed Seoul fired over 10 machine-gun warning shots at its soldiers.
Relations remain strained despite Lee’s campaign promises to improve ties. Earlier, Seoul halted its border loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts to restore trust, though Pyongyang still views them as hostile acts.
The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1953 armistice, with periodic clashes sustaining long-standing hostilities.
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