TOKYO, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - South and North Korean troops exchanged fire on Sunday after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) soldiers approached the military demarcation line (MDL) between the two countries.
According to Yonhap news agency, the South Korean border control broadcasted warning messages and fired warning shots as several North Korean soldiers approached the border, but remained on their side of the MDL in Cheorwon, Gangwon province. Reportedly, the North Korean troops returned fire, with the fire exchange lasting no longer than 10 minutes.
No causalities have been reported.
This is not the first shooting on South Korea – North Korea border this month. Last week, the countries exchanged gunfire across the maritime border.
The two Koreas are very sensitive to incidents on the border, as the Korean Peninsula is formally in a state of war, as no peace treaty was signed after the Korean War of 1950-1953. Relations between North and South Korea worsened in 2010, when Seoul's Cheonan warship was sunk in the Yellow Sea. A South Korean investigation determined the vessel was hit by a North Korean torpedo.
On November 23, 2010, the disputed island of Yeonpyeongdo was shelled by North Korean artillery, according to the South Korean reports. The incident killed two soldiers, and left another 17 wounded.
