On Tuesday morning, dozens of North Korean soldiers crossed the border into South Korea. They quickly retreated after South Korean forces fired warning shots. This is the second such incident in two weeks.
At about 8:30am, North Korean troops entered the central part of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). They crossed the Military Demarcation Line but turned back when South Korean soldiers fired warning shots. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) believe the crossing was accidental. A similar incident occurred on June 9.
Several North Korean soldiers have been injured by landmine explosions near the border. The exact dates of these incidents were not revealed. The explosions happened while North Korean troops were laying mines and creating “barren land” along the border. Despite these accidents, North Korea continues these operations.
Rising Tensions
Relations between North and South Korea are very tense. North Korea has been removing streetlights, digging up railway tracks, and adding anti-tank barriers along the border. They are also reinforcing tactical roads and laying more mines. South Korea suspended parts of a 2018 military agreement after North Korea launched a satellite.
Diplomatic Developments
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is preparing to host Russian President Vladimir Putin. This visit is expected to strengthen defense ties between the two countries. Putin praised the relationship between Russia and North Korea, promising to build alternative trade mechanisms and resist Western sanctions.
North Korea recently sent balloons filled with trash, including cigarette butts and toilet paper, into South Korea. This was in response to balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang messages sent by activists in the South. South Korea has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, which has angered North Korea.
Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher, says North Korea is clearing mines and installing barriers to prevent defections. He believes the accidents happened because the soldiers are not familiar with the minefields.
