South Korea claims North Korean artillery drills have invalidated a long-standing buffer zone.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Monday that it would resume exercises in the area in response to North Korean artillery bombardment, saying restrictions on the zone “no longer exist.”
A 2018 agreement between Seoul and Pyongyang established a buffer zone as a no-go area for artillery fire or military exercises.
Earlier this month, North Korea’s military began a multi-day bombardment of the border region with hundreds of artillery fire in a series of military exercises.
South Korean intelligence estimated about 200 shells were fired into the area on Friday and an additional 60 on Saturday.
South Korea’s Ministry of Defense reportedly fired about 400 shots in response to the provocation.
“We strongly warn that the overall responsibility for the escalating crisis lies with North Korea and urge that it be stopped immediately,” said South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Col. Lee Sung-jun at a press conference during artillery fire.
South Korean marines board a military truck after patrolling a beach on Yeonpyeong Island, near the “northern line” sea border with North Korea on January 8, 2024. AFP via Getty Images
The western sea border between North and South Korea has been the site of several skirmishes since the end of the Korean War.
Naval battles erupted briefly in 1999, 2022 and 2009.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
