Border between North and South Korea: Soldiers fire warning shots

Seoul/Pyongyang. According to the United Nations, around 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified border with South Korea a few days ago, triggering warning shots from the South Korean military. The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported this, citing a spokesman for the US-led UN Command (UNC) in Korea.

The South Korean armed forces initially informed the North Korean soldiers with several warning messages that they had crossed the Military Demarcation Line. However, the soldiers did not respond, the spokesman added, according to Yonhap. The South Koreans then fired warning shots to force the North Koreans to turn back.

According to the state news agency KCNA, Deputy Chief of Staff of the North Korean People's Army, Ko Jong Chol, spoke of "dangerous provocations" that could trigger a military conflict and must be stopped immediately. North Korean soldiers had been carrying out work on the border.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) oversees the test firing of two types of new air defense missiles.

Source: KCNA via KNS/AP/dpa

North and South Korea are formally still in a state of war because the Korean War of 1950 to 1953 only ended with an armistice, but a full peace treaty was never signed.

The UNC, founded in 1950, is primarily intended to ensure compliance with the 1953 agreement. Tensions between democratic South Korea and communist North Korea have increased significantly in recent years.

RND/dpa