South Korean units confirmed that on August 19, they opened warning fire on approximately 30 North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the demarcation line between the two countries. The DPRK military carried out construction work near the border, which caused interference from Seoul. Despite warning radio broadcasts to stop the border crossing, the North Korean military continued its actions, which forced the South Korean troops to open fire.
North Korea's state media, in turn, called the shots a "deliberate provocation" and accused South Korea of threatening "uncontrollable" tensions in the region. The Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the DPRK, Ko Jong Chol, said that the work carried out by the North Korean troops is aimed at strengthening the border and territorial demarcation, and that the DPRK had notified the American side in advance about the construction.
The incident occurred against the background of the joint exercises of South Korea and the United States Ulchi Freedom Shield, which also raised concerns in Pyongyang. In recent weeks, the North Korean leadership has sharply rejected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's proposals for reconciliation, exacerbating the situation in the region.
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