00:00In a tense incident along the world's most heavily fortified border, South Korean troops
00:18fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed into the southern portion
00:25of the demilitarized zone, also called DMZ, earlier this week.
00:31The incident occurred on June 9, when some North Korean soldiers walking within the DMZ
00:37on the Central Front inadvertently crossed the Military Demarcation Line, or MDL.
00:43According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the soldiers were noticed carrying
00:49a mix of weapons and tools.
00:52Upon detecting the incursion, South Korean forces issued warning broadcasts and fired
00:58warning shots.
01:00The North Korean soldiers immediately retreated northward.
01:04No usual movements were observed following their retreat, indicating the breach was likely
01:10unintentional.
01:11The area where the soldiers crossed is densely forested, making it difficult to see the MDL
01:19The DMZ, established after the North Korean war ended in an armistice in the 1950s, spans
01:30to 48 km and is roughly 4 km wide.
01:35It is heavily mined and fortified, with thousands of troops from both sides facing off across
01:42the line.
01:43This latest incident highlights the ongoing volatility of this border region.
01:49Tensions between the two Koreas have escalated in recent weeks.
01:53North Korea has been sending hundreds of balloons laden with trash, including cigarette butts,
01:59manure and toilet paper, into South Korea.
02:03These actions are said to be in retaliation for balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda
02:08sent by South Korea.
02:11In response to the North's provocative actions, South Korea has fully suspended a 2018 military
02:18agreement and resumed broadcasting anti-Pyongyang propaganda via loudspeakers along the border.
02:26This move has angered North Korea, which warned that Seoul is creating a new crisis.
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