The South Korean military confirmed that North Korean soldiers crossed the border more than 20 times, more than in the whole of last year

The South Korean military confirmed on the 9th that North Korean soldiers had crossed the Military Demarcation Line more than 20 times in the past month. (AFP file photo)

The South Korean military stated on the 9th that in the past month, North Korean soldiers have crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) more than 20 times, exceeding the 17 times in the whole of last year.

Yonhap News Agency reported that the South Korean military pointed out that the first cross-border incident of North Korean soldiers this year occurred on the Eastern Front in mid-August. Since then, similar incidents have occurred frequently, mainly on the Eastern Front.

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According to the rules of engagement, when the South Korean military detects signs of North Korean soldiers crossing the border, it will first make a warning broadcast; if the North Korean soldiers still cross the military demarcation line, the South Korean military will immediately fire warning shots to drive them away. In the recent incidents of North Korean soldiers crossing the border, the South Korean military mostly fired warning shots.

North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line 17 times last year. The number of border crossings in the last month alone this year has exceeded the number in the whole of last year.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that after the North Korean military resumed forest clearing operations in frontline areas, soldiers continued to cross the border. Based on this analysis, these cross-border behaviors did not originate from special movements or changes in the North Korean military.

It is understood that since cross-border incidents by North Korean soldiers mainly occur on the eastern front, the South Korean military is currently considering plans to strengthen surveillance and vigilance.

In addition, the South Korean military has asked the United Nations Command to investigate whether North Korean soldiers' crossing the border violated the Korean War Armistice Agreement, and to coordinate and communicate on potential risks that may trigger military conflicts, such as the different determinations of the military demarcation line between South and North Korea.

The United Nations Command stated that in accordance with the armistice agreement, the command continues to monitor relevant activities in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and maintains close communication with the South Korean government.