In the latest incident, the armies of North and South Korea clashed again at the border between the two countries. North Korean soldiers in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas briefly crossed into the South before retreating back after South Korean military fired warning shots.
This was the second violation from the North in less than two weeks, following a similar incident on June 9, as reported by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. South Korean soldiers followed standard procedures with warnings to leave and then the firing of warning shots, prompting North Korean soldiers to return to their own territory. The Command stated that no special activities were detected following the shots, suggesting that the incident appeared to be entirely accidental.
The border violation occurred as North Korea had deployed hundreds of troops in frontline areas since April to conduct various activities such as laying mines, building defensive walls, and constructing roads for military operations. According to South Korean military officials, these activities appeared to be aimed at strengthening internal control over North Korean military and residents, and deterring any attempts to cross the border.
During these border fortification activities, some mines were reportedly detonated, injuring or killing several North Korean soldiers who were clearing the land and carrying out consolidation operations. This information was reported by Nk News, a Seoul-based site specializing in covering North Korean affairs, citing an official from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff without specifying the timing of the explosions.
Since April, Pyongyang has been reinforcing tactical roads, installing mines, and placing “unidentified structures” that appear to be anti-tank barriers along the border, clearing land to enhance security along the inter-Korean border. “The North Korean army seems to have been overzealous in their work, despite a series of mine explosions during the creation of specific areas in the front zone and mine operations,” the official continued, requesting anonymity.
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