North Korea has accused the South Korean military of firing at its soldiers near the border, warning that such incidents could escalate tensions to uncontrollable levels.

According to Lieutenant General Jong Chol of the North Korean army, the clash occurred on Tuesday while North Korean troops were working to permanently seal the border. South Korea has not confirmed the incident.

Previous Border Incidents

This is not the first confrontation between the two nations. In April, South Korean forces fired on 10 North Korean soldiers, claiming they attempted to cross the border. Some areas in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) are heavily mined and covered in dense forests, making such incidents risky.

North Korea had announced in October 2024 its plan to completely close the southern border, even bombing roads and railways connecting the North to the South. The North has stated it will respond if South Korea interferes with these efforts.

Ongoing Non-Violent Tensions

The two Koreas frequently engage in non-violent confrontations along the border. Last year, North Korea sent thousands of balloons carrying garbage toward the South, citing retaliation for propaganda balloons sent by South Korean activists. South Korea responded by playing K-pop songs and international news on loudspeakers at the border — a practice not done for six years — prompting North Korea to broadcast strange sounds in return, disturbing South Korean citizens.

Dialogue Offers Remain Stalled

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung, elected in June, has expressed a commitment to dialogue without preconditions to reduce tensions and rebuild trust. However, North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong Un, stated that Pyongyang has no interest in improving relations with the South. The two countries remain technically at war, as the 1950–53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.