South Korea and North Korea exchange warning shots at the border between the two countries | Globalism

a Joint Chiefs of Staff flood (JCS) He said he broadcast warnings and fired warning shots when he saw a North Korean merchant ship crossing Northern Border Line (NLL)de facto maritime boundary, around 3:40 a.m. local time.

North Korea’s military said it fired 10 rocket-propelled grenades after a South Korean navy ship crossed the NLL and fired warning shots “on the pretext of tracking an unidentified ship,” according to state media.

“We have been ordered to take preliminary countermeasures to forcibly expel the hostile warship,” the official Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesman for the General Staff of the North Korean People’s Army as saying.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it carried out a “normal operation” on the border invasion and described North Korea’s move as a violation of a 2018 bilateral military agreement that bans “hostile acts” in border areas.

“We once again urge North Korea to immediately cease its persistent provocations and accusations that undermine peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the international community,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The latest exchange of fire came amid simmering tensions, with North Korea testing weapons at an unprecedented pace this year.

In recent weeks, North Korea has fired short-range ballistic missiles and hundreds of artillery shells at the east and west coasts on multiple occasions in protest of the south’s military activities.

South Korean forces began their annual defense exercises in Hoguk last week, which are designed to last until October 28 and increase their special capabilities along with United State To combat nuclear and missile threats from the North.

As part of the program, the South Korean Navy said on Monday it will conduct a four-day drill off the west coast, gathering about 20 US warships and assets such as attack helicopters.