South Korea's military fired warning shots when North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two countries. The incident occurred around 12:30 pm (03:30 GMT) on Sunday, as reported by the Yonhap news agency, citing a statement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). South Korean soldiers issued warnings and fired into the air, prompting the North Korean soldiers to retreat to their side of the heavily fortified border.
This incident comes amidst increased tensions between the Koreas, following North Korea's release of over 1,000 balloons filled with trash across the border and South Korea's resumption of propaganda broadcasts that had ceased in 2018. Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, warned that the broadcasts risk escalating into a crisis.
North Korea is particularly sensitive to South Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts, fearing they could lower morale among troops and residents, potentially weakening Kim Jong Un's authority. The JCS reported no unusual activities after the warning shots on Sunday, with both sides returning to their respective borders.
