North Korea accuses South Korea of a “deliberate challenge” that risks provoking an “uncontrollable” situation
A South Korean military guard position in the Imjingak Peace Park, located near the demilitarized area (DMZ) that separates the two Korea, in the Paju, on October 14, 2024. Credit Line: Jung Yeon-Ja / AFP / Profimedia
The new tensions between the two powers came out after South Korea fired warning fires on the North Korean soldiers who shortly passed the border earlier this week, according to The Guardian.
The Seul army said several North Korean soldiers crossed the border on Tuesday while working in the demilitarized area (DMZ) that separates the two states. The incursion caused “our army to shoot warning fires,” said the General Staff of Seoul in a statement, adding that “North Korean soldiers then went to the north” on the border.
The Phenian says, however, that the incident took place while the North Korean soldiers were working on the definitive closure of the border that separates the peninsula, according to the North Korea press.
Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol qualified the event as “a premeditated and deliberate challenge” and says that the Seul army used a machine gun to draw more than 10 warning fires in the direction of North Korean troops.
“It is a very serious signal that will inevitably lead to an uncontrollable situation in the southern border area, where a large number of military forces are in the confrontation,” said KO, quoted by the Korean Central News Agency.
The last confrontation at the border between Phenian and Seoul took place in early April, when the South Korean army fired warning fires after about 10 North Korean soldiers temporarily passed the border.
The North Korean army announced in October last year that it will completely close the southern border, saying it has sent a message to American forces to “prevent any mistake and accidental conflict.” Shortly thereafter, he threw portions of unused, but deeply symbolic roads and railways, which connect the south.
Ko Jong Chol also warned that the North Korean army will respond against any interference with its efforts to permanently close the border.
Earlier this week, Phenian leader Kim Jong-un asked for the “rapid expansion” of North Korea nuclear capacity. He invoked the ongoing military exercises between the US and South Korea, which, according to him, could “trigger a war”.
