by Temitope Oladeji
8/4/2025
South Korea’s military disclosed firing warning shots on Tuesday after approximately 10 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified border separating the two countries.
The incursion marks the second such incident in less than a year, reflecting heightened tensions between South Korea and North Korea.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the North Korean soldiers breached the military demarcation line (MDL) in the eastern passage of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) around 5 p.m. local time.
The JCS stated that South Korean forces responded with a warning broadcast followed by warning shots, prompting the intruders to retreat.
“Our military issued warning broadcasts and fired warning shots after about 10 North Korean troops crossed the MDL in the eastern DMZ,” the JCS said in a message to reporters.
“We are closely tracking the movements of the North Korean military and are taking appropriate measures according to standard operational procedures.”
The motive behind the latest breach remains unclear. A similar incident occurred in June of last year when North Korean troops were observed south of the MDL but withdrew following warning measures.
South Korean authorities at the time assessed the incursion was likely accidental, noting that the area was heavily wooded, MDL markers were badly visible, and the soldiers were with construction tools.
The border zone remains one of the most militarized regions in the world, laced with an estimated two million landmines and fortified with barbed wire, tank traps, and standby combat troops on both sides.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to expand his nuclear weapons program and strengthen ties with Russia, amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Despite repeated calls from South Korea and the United States to resume denuclearization talks, North Korea has refused to return to the negotiating table.
While U.S. President Donald Trump, who was inaugurated on January 20, has continually expressed interest in re-engaging North Korean leader Kim diplomatically, North Korea has responded by accusing Washington of escalating hostilities since the return of Donald Trump to office.