South Korea fires warning shots at border with North Korea

The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on June 9 when North Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) crossed the military demarcation line, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on June 11.

JCS spokesman Col. Lee Sung-jun said the military did not consider the violation intentional because the area was heavily wooded, obscuring roads and border markers.

"They returned north immediately after our military fired warning shots, and there were no other unusual movements," Mr Lee told a news conference.

South Korean army soldiers patrol along a barbed wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. Photo: AP

South Korean media reported that about 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers had entered South Korean territory about 50 meters while lost. Reports said most of the North Korean soldiers were carrying hoes and other construction tools.

Observers said the incident would not escalate tensions because South Korea believed North Korea did not intentionally cross the border and North Korea did not return fire.

The DMZ - the area along the 248km long, 4km wide shared border between the two countries - is a border with minefields and significant troop concentrations. An estimated 2 million landmines are scattered in and near the border, which is also protected by barbed wire, tank traps and combat forces from both sides.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between North Korea and South Korea in recent days with provocative moves by both sides.

While North Korea launched thousands of balloons loaded with trash into South Korea, South Korea suspended the 2018 inter-Korean military pact to resume military activities around the border, including reinstalling loudspeakers.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/han-quoc-no-sung-canh-cao-o-bien-gioi-voi-trieu-tien-post298874.html