Seoul, Aug 16 (IANS) The South Korean military fired warning shots last week after a group of North Korean soldiers crossed the inter-Korean land boundary, prompting them to return to their side, a source said on Sunday.
Multiple North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the eastern front-line area sometime last week, prompting the warning shots under the military’s operational procedures, according to the government source.
It marked the South Korean military’s first warning shots this year in response to North Korean troops crossing the boundary. No prior MDL violations by the North Korean military had been reported this year, according to Yonhap news agency.
The soldiers were said to have been likely patrolling the area when they crossed the MDL, which bisects the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Koreas — a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
The North Korean troops returned to their side after the warning shots, and no other unusual activity was reported.
Under rules of engagement, the South Korean military airs warning broadcasts if North Korean troops approach the MDL, followed by firing warning shots if they cross the boundary.
Brief MDL crossings by North Korean troops have often been reported in recent years as the North has been fortifying its side of the border since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared inter-Korean ties as between “two hostile” states in late 2023.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the US Eighth Army announced its participation in the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, set to kick off Monday for an 11-day run, stressing it will reinforce its partnership with South Korea to strengthen deterrence and regional stability.
“Eighth Army’s training objectives will focus on enhancing ‘Fight Tonight’ readiness, modernising the United States-Republic of Korea alliance and shaping the security environment in Northeast Asia,” the Army said in a press release.
–IANS
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