South Korea fires warning shots after North Korean soldiers cross demarcation line

South Korean troops fired warning shots last week after multiple North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line (MDL) in the eastern sector of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The incident prompted the North Korean soldiers to retreat back across the line, Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unnamed source.

This incursion marks the first reported violation of the MDL by the North Korean military in 2026. The soldiers were believed to be on patrol when they crossed the demarcation line. Following the warning shots and their subsequent return, no other unusual activities were observed in the area, according to the report.

The two Koreas remain technically at war, as their 1950-1953 conflict concluded with an armistice agreement, not a peace treaty. The MDL represents the de facto border between the two nations. Yonhap noted that North Korean troops had violated the MDL 17 times in 2025.