North Korea accuses Seoul of provocation on the border before the visit of the South Korean president in Washington

North Korea accused. Nevertheless, on Saturday August 22, Seoul of having fired warnings towards its soldiers near the border, qualifying the incident north korea accuses seoul provocation of “Serious provocation”.

The facts took place on Tuesday as North Korean soldiers were working on the permanent closure of the fortified border which divides the peninsula. Therefore, according to the North Korean state agency KCNA quoting a press release from Lieutenant General Ko Jong-Chol. Therefore, According to the latter, the South Korean soldiers fired more than ten warning strokes.

The South Korean army confirmed, on Saturday, that it had carried out, Tuesday at 3 p.m. However, locals (8 am in Paris). In north korea accuses seoul provocation addition, warning shooting on the border towards ” Some North Korean soldiers » Having briefly crossed the limit, during their operations in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two countries. The North Korean soldiers withdrew in stride. added the army, specifying that it was monitoring “Close to the movements of the North Korean troops”.

Two countries technically still at war

“This is a very serious incident that could inevitably lead. to the situation on the southern border – where a very large number of troops are stationed – towards a confrontation to an uncontrollable phase”said Lieutenant General North Korean. Friday. he warned that Pyongyang would respond to any interference to his efforts to close the border, warning against any “Deliberate military provocation”.

The two Koreas have been technically at war for more than seven decades. the conflict which had opposed them from 1950 to 1953 north korea accuses seoul provocation having ended with an armistice, and not with a peace treaty. Their relations have been at the lowest for several years. after the North launched a series of ballistic missiles in violation of the United Nations sanctions in 2024.

In April. the South Korean army had fired the warning after an incursion on its side of the border of a dozen North Korean soldiers, who had retired. The North Korean troops made a series of small forays through the border last year. north korea accuses seoul provocation which Seoul described as probably accidental.

The new South Korean president aims to relax relations

These announcements. on Saturday, were broadcast two days before a visit to Washington of the new South Korean president, Lee Jae-Myung, who is trying to hire a certain relaxation towards Pyongyang.

Lee Jae-Myung. who came to power in June at the end of the long period of political chaos caused by his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, promised “Respect” the northern political system and to build “Confidence between armies”while committing to pursuing the dialogue north korea accuses seoul provocation without preconditions, which constitutes a break with the policy carried out previously. He was expected on Saturday for an official visit to Japan. is scheduled to go to the United States on Monday, a key ally of Seoul, Afind’Y meeting his American counterpart, Donald Trump, for expected discussion on trade.

About 28,500 American soldiers are deployed in South Korea to help protect it from North Korea. Washington. Seoul began joint military exercises on August 18, which should be completed on August 28 and are intended to prepare the two countries to counter potential threats from the north.

South Korea also withdrawn in early August the loudspeakers who spread K-pop. newsletters on the border, the army later claiming that the north was doing the same. What Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo Jong’s influential sister, denied.