Tense situations arise at the border between North and South Korea.

(Baonghean.vn) - On October 19, according to a statement from the South Korean Ministry of Defense, a brief exchange of gunfire took place between South Korean and North Korean soldiers in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) located at the 38th parallel.

South Korean soldiers at the border between the two Koreas on September 17. Photo: Ahn Young Joon.

The Ministry of Defense stated that South Korean border guards detected a North Korean military patrol approaching the military demarcation line in the center of the DMZ. The South Korean government declared, “Warnings were broadcast via loudspeakers, followed by warning shots. The North Korean military returned fire in response.” The gunfire lasted approximately 10 minutes, and reports indicated no casualties.

This is the second exchange of gunfire in less than a month along the border between the two Koreas. A similar exchange of gunfire also occurred on October 10th. Seoul authorized the shooting down of balloons carrying anti-government leaflets from Pyongyang.

Professor Yang Moo Jin, who has many years of experience researching North Korea, analyzes that clashes like these are relatively minor. However, these skirmishes could escalate tensions between the two Koreas. According to the professor, the nerves of soldiers on both sides are constantly on high alert, and this could increase the risk of more "uncontrollable" clashes.

Chu Thanh– LeMonde 19/10