On the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a group of up to 30 North Korean soldiers crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea. This heavily armed area spans 248 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide, filled with mines, barbed wire, and troops from both Koreas.
The incident occurred on a Tuesday when South Korean troops fired warning shots to turn back the North Korean soldiers, who had been conducting construction work in the area. Following the warning shots, the North Korean soldiers quickly retreated. This marked the second such incident within two weeks, both perceived as accidental by Seoul.
The military demarcation line in the DMZ is often just a sign on a stick or a piece of concrete and can be obscured by overgrown vegetation. The North Korean troops may have crossed the line without realizing due to such obstruction.
The North Korean military has been fortifying their side of the DMZ with anti-tank barriers, roads, and additional mines, potentially to curb defections. With both sides abandoning the 2018 military agreement aimed at reducing tensions, incidents like this highlight the fragile peace along one of the world's most militarized borders.