South Korean forces fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) separating the two Koreas, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Sunday.

The incident occurred recently along the eastern front, where North Korean troops crossed the demarcation line, prompting South Korean forces to fire warning shots in accordance with established operational procedures.

“Recently, on the Eastern Front, North Korean forces crossed the military demarcation line, prompting our military to fire warning shots according to operational procedures,” the JCS said in a statement, without providing the exact date of the incident.

The South Korean military said the North Korean soldiers subsequently returned to the northern side of the boundary.

“Our military is closely monitoring North Korean movements while maintaining a firm military readiness posture,” the JCS said.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported earlier Sunday that warning shots were fired last week, citing an unnamed source.

According to Yonhap, the incident was the first reported violation of the Military Demarcation Line by North Korean troops this year. The soldiers were reportedly conducting a patrol when they crossed the boundary.

The incident comes amid continued tensions on the Korean Peninsula, where encounters between military personnel along the heavily fortified border carry the potential for escalation.

North Korean authorities had not immediately commented on the incident. The North Korean embassy in Singapore also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Yonhap reported that North Korean troops crossed the Military Demarcation Line 17 times last year, highlighting the risks faced by military personnel operating along the inter-Korean border.

The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.

South Korean forces remain on heightened alert and are closely monitoring North Korean military movements along the border. Seoul has reiterated that its forces will follow established operational procedures in responding to any further violations of the demarcation line. (ILKHA)