Early Tuesday morning, around 8:30 am local time, a group of 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers crossed the border into South Korea. This happened in the central part of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which is the heavily fortified area separating the two countries. The South Korean military responded quickly by firing warning shots, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as reported by Yonhap news agency.
After the warning shots were fired, the North Korean soldiers retreated back across the border. The JCS believes that the crossing was likely accidental. A similar incident occurred just over a week ago in the same area of the DMZ.
Additionally, South Korean military officials have reported that several North Korean soldiers have been injured or killed by landmine explosions near the border. The exact timing of these incidents was not provided. The DMZ is known for being one of the most heavily mined and militarised borders in the world.
“Numerous casualties have resulted from multiple landmine explosions in the frontline area,” stated the JCS during a briefing.
Last November, North Korea decided to nullify a 2018 military agreement with South Korea. This agreement had aimed to reduce tensions along the border. North Korea’s decision came after South Korea suspended parts of the agreement in response to North Korea’s launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite, as per reports.
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Since then, there has been increased military activity in the area. The JCS reports that North Korea has been fortifying the border by removing streetlights and railway tracks, installing anti-tank barriers, and laying additional mines to create a more secure buffer zone.
This latest border incident comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un prepares to host Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang. This visit highlights the growing relationship between North Korea and Russia. In a letter published in North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, Putin emphasised the strong ties between the two countries and their efforts to establish trade mechanisms free from Western control. He also mentioned their joint efforts to promote security in Eurasia.
Putin and Kim last met in eastern Russia in September of last year, where they discussed ways to strengthen diplomatic and strategic cooperation between their countries.
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