UN Command: "About 30 North Korean soldiers crossed MDL on the 19th... returned after South Korean warning shots"

"North Korea notified in advance about DMZ work... prepared to discuss this issue and others"

Joint Chiefs of Staff reveals recent North Korean military movements (Seoul=Yonhap News) The Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed on the 23rd that approximately 1,100 North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia had become casualties, and that North Korean forces are currently preparing for rotation or reinforcement deployments. North Korea is also strengthening its border security along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and continuing preparations for balloon launches towards the South, with the possibility of launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM)-class hypersonic missile by year-end. The photo shows North Korean soldiers installing fence in the frontline area. 2024.12.23 [Provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Reproduction and database prohibited] photo@yna.co.kr

 The United Nations Command (UNC) stated on the 24th that it confirmed approximately 30 North Korean soldiers engaged in construction and repair work within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the 19th.

In response to Yonhap News' inquiry regarding North Korea's announcement yesterday that South Korean forces fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers working near the MDL, the UNC stated, "We are aware of the incident that occurred in the DMZ, as well as the North's announcement."

The UNC explained, "When the incident occurred, the UNC Military Armistice Commission initiated an investigation in accordance with standard procedures," adding that South Korean forces issued multiple warning broadcasts to alert the North Korean soldiers who had crossed the MDL, but they did not respond. Consequently, South Korean forces fired warning shots, causing the North Korean soldiers to retreat back to the area north of the MDL.

The UNC acknowledged the value of advance notification and communication in reducing the risk of misunderstanding and accidental incidents, stating that North Korea had provided prior notification for its work activities within the DMZ.

It added, "We are prepared to engage in dialogue with the North on this issue, as well as other potential issues."

Earlier, Lieutenant General Ko Jong-chol, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, issued a statement yesterday titled 'Dangerous Provocative Acts Causing Military Clashes in Border Areas Must Be Stopped Immediately,' stating that on the 19th, South Korean forces fired more than 10 rounds from a 12.7 mm machine gun at North Korean soldiers working near the MDL.

In response, a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official explained, "Around 3 p.m. on the 19th, North Korean soldiers violated the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the central frontline area, prompting warning shots and other measures, after which the North Korean soldiers moved northward."