North Korea Warns of 'Uncontrollable Clash' at Border

North Korea has warned of the risk of an 'uncontrollable clash' at the border with South Korea, following warning shots fired by the South. The incident occurred on August 19, the first day of South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung's overseas tour.

According to KCNA, North Korean soldiers were working to close the land border when South Korean soldiers fired warning shots, claiming the North Koreans had crossed the border in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol called the incident a 'serious provocation' and stated that more than 10 warning shots from machine guns were fired at his soldiers.

Ko warned that North Korea would retaliate against any attempts to interfere with its efforts to close the border. Pyongyang accuses Seoul of duplicity, calling for dialogue while increasing military tensions. The two countries have technically been at war since the Korean War (1950-1953).

Lee Jae-myung has advocated for dialogue with North Korea without preconditions. Approximately 28,500 American soldiers remain deployed in South Korea. Seoul and Washington began joint military exercises on August 18.