According to KCNA news agency on August 23, North Korea accused the South Korean military of firing warning shots in the inter-Korean border area, calling it a clear act of provinceence. Pyongyang also said warnings from South Korea in the area are increasing.
In a statement quoting Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the North Korean People's Army, the North Korean side emphasized that there will be appropriate response measures to any obstacles to the project to build fences along the border. He warned Pyongyang would not be held accountable for serious consequences if warnings were ignored.
The South Korean military confirmed that at around 3 p.m. on August 19, a group of North Korean soldiers working near the border crossed the military border. South Korean forces then fired warning shots, forcing North Korean soldiers to retreat north.
This tension comes as North Korea has built heavily reinforced barriers in the border area since last year and blew up many inter-Korean roads and railways.
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has announced that the government will end a number of military activities along the border in an effort to improve bilateral relations. However, the current situation continues to show opposites in views between the two sides.
North Korea also criticized the joint exercises between the US and South Korea, calling them an extremelyprovocative exercise for a real conflict. In contrast, the US and South Korea have confirmed that these exercises are only defensive.
