North Korea has accused South Korean forces of firing warning shots at its troops, who, according to Pyongyang, were engaged in a project to reinforce the border area.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, with North Korea issuing its response on Saturday through the state-run news agency KCNA.
Ko Jong Chol, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, described the incident as a “serious provocation” and warned that such actions could push the situation into an “uncontrollable phase.”
“This is a very serious prelude that could inevitably escalate the situation in the southern border area—where a large number of forces are stationed—into a confrontation that is beyond control,” Ko said, according to KCNA.
He added that Seoul must immediately halt its “premeditated and deliberate provocation,” which he claims constitutes an “incitement to military conflict.”
On the other hand, the South Korean military acknowledged firing warning shots after some North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border.
“Several North Korean soldiers operating near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the central DMZ crossed the MDL, prompting our military to fire warning shots,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said in a statement.
“The North Korean soldiers then retreated to the northern side of the MDL,” the statement concluded.
