South Korea fires warning shots as North Korean soldiers cross border again | Military news

The incident is the third this month and occurred during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang.

The South Korean military said it fired warning shots after several North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border, the third such incident this month.

The North Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the incident occurred on Thursday when North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line, which runs through the middle of the demilitarized zone (DMZ), at around 11:00 a.m. (02:00 GMT).

“After the warning announcements and warning shots from our military, the North Korean soldiers retreated north again,” the JCS said on Friday.

Similar incidents occurred on Tuesday and June 9. In both cases, which Seoul said appeared to be accidents, the North Koreans quickly withdrew after warning shots were fired.

Nuclear-armed North Korea has moved more soldiers and equipment to the border since it abandoned a 2018 military agreement when South Korea suspended parts of the deal in response to the successful launch of Pyongyang’s first military spy satellite.

According to Seoul, tactical roads were expanded and more landmines were laid, which led to “casualties” due to accidental explosions.

The incident occurred as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang for the first time in 24 years and the two countries signed a mutual defense pact that raised concerns in Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.

On Friday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the treaty as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.

Yonhap news agency reported that Seoul would also summon Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to officially protest against the pact, which states that in the event of an invasion or a state of war on either side, the other side would provide military and other assistance “with all means at its disposal” and “immediately.”