North Korean Soldiers Trespass MDL for 3rd Time This Month Amid Ongoing Border Activities

The North Korean military crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the 20th. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 21st, several North Korean soldiers who were working inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the central front line violated the MDL by about 20 meters (approximately 65 feet) around 11 AM the previous day.

As a response, the South Korean military carried out warning broadcasts followed by warning shots, and the North Korean military immediately moved north. However, they did not retreat and continued their work just above the MDL. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said they continued to monitor the situation.

At the time of the incident, hundreds of North Korean soldiers were working over several kilometers in the area.

This is the third MDL violation by the North Korean military this month.

On the 9th, a group of 20-30 North Korean soldiers working inside the DMZ in the central front line crossed over 50 meters (approximately 164 feet) into the MDL. It retreated after our military’s warning shots. On the 18th, another group of 20-30 North Korean soldiers working inside the DMZ in the central front line violated the MDL by about 20 meters (approximately 65 feet). It moved north after warning broadcasts and shots.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff believe that these are minor violations because the North Korean soldiers always move back north immediately after warning shots.

The area is overgrown with bushes, making it difficult to see the MDL markers. There is a possibility that the North Korean military crossed the MDL while clearing bushes to turn it into a wasteland for tasks like laying mines.

Recently, the North Korean military has been carrying out various tasks such as laying mines, enhancing border capabilities, creating wastelands, and reinforcing tactical roads in more than 10 places inside the DMZ, mobilizing tens to hundreds of people per place.