Soldiers who made a brief incursion across the heavily fortified border separating the two nations.
North Korean state media characterised the actions as a “deliberate provocation,” while Pyongyang has charged Seoul with endangering the situation and creating “uncontrollable” tensions.
The incident came to light as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left Seoul on Saturday for a diplomatic trip to Tokyo and Washington.
In recent weeks, Pyongyang has escalated tensions, as Kim Jong Un’s sister has dismissed attempts at reconciliation proposed by the government of Lee.
The event occurred during ongoing efforts by North Korea, which have been in progress since the previous year, to close its border with South Korea permanently.
The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a stretch of no-man’s land, acts as a barrier between the north and south, where frequent intrusions tend to heighten tensions in the region. The DMZ border remains unfenced, with signposts hidden beneath thick vegetation.
In a statement released on Tuesday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that several North Korean troops operating in the border area crossed the military demarcation line between the two nations at approximately 15:00 local time in Seoul, which corresponds to 07:00 BST.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the soldiers subsequently repositioned to the north of the line.
According to state media, North Korean Army Lt Gen Ko Jong Chol reported that the military in Seoul discharged over 10 warning shots using a machine gun directed at its soldiers.
“State media reported that this serious prelude could inevitably escalate the situation at the southern border, where a significant number of forces are positioned in confrontation with one another, potentially leading to an uncontrollable phase,” he added.
Despite the June election victory of Lee, who ran on a platform aimed at enhancing inter-Korean relations, Pyongyang has shown a dismissive attitude towards Seoul.
Later that month, South Korea’s military announced the suspension of its loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts directed at North Korea, a move aimed at “restoring trust” between the two nations.
Pyongyang views the loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts as a declaration of war, having previously issued threats to destroy them.
The division of the Korean Peninsula has persisted since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953.
The absence of a signed peace treaty has left the two sides in a state of technical war, even though it has been years since either party has engaged in shelling against the other.
