Warning shots fired by South Korean military were “provocative”

North Korea: Seoul said it fired when North Korean troops momentarily crossed the border, while North Korea claimed Saturday that the South Korean military had fired warning shots in the region along the two Koreas’ border earlier this week, calling it an act of premeditated provocation.

North Korea’s official media, KCNA, reports that Pyongyang has warned of a “corresponding countermeasure” after seeing an increase in warning broadcasts from the South Korean military in the border area.

According to KCNA, North Korea’s Army Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol cited Pyongyang’s efforts to erect barriers along the heavily fortified border and stated that if the project is obstructed, it will respond and “take no responsibility for the grave consequences” if future advanced warning in the region is disregarded.

How Did South Korea Respond?

The military fired warning shots Tuesday after several North Korean troops operating in the border area breached the military demarcation line, according to a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “Our military fired warning shots after some North Korean soldiers operating near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the central frontline DMZ crossed the MDL.” After that, the North Korean troops advanced north of the MDL.

The strong message from North Korea runs counter to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s declaration last week that his administration would stop certain military operations close to the border as part of continuous attempts to mend the two nations’ still-at-war relations.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has reportedly rejected any US intention to reestablish diplomatic relations, asserting that the nation would not be denied its status as a nuclear-armed state. The announcement coincides with US President Donald Trump’s plans to resume nuclear talks with Pyongyang during his second term in office.