Kim Yo-jong, a department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, alleged Wednesday that South Korean troops fired warning shots at at least two border sites, raising the prospect of retaliation.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said South Korean forces also issued loudspeaker warnings Wednesday. She said North Korea’s tactical hunting teams were moving into new positions.
Kim said that if North Korean forces returned warning fire in a case like Wednesday’s, tensions could escalate severely. She warned that South Korean gunfire endangering North Korean personnel or territorial security would draw retaliation.
The Korea Herald reported that South Korea’s military had not responded to Kim’s latest gunfire allegation as of Wednesday evening. Seoul has said its warnings and shots are meant to stop North Korean troops from crossing the military demarcation line during border construction.
The exchange follows Kim’s earlier reaffirmation of North Korea’s border loudspeaker plan amid a dispute over two Sept. 21 land mine blasts that injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul blamed North Korean mines; Kim denied North Korean responsibility.
Kim said North Korea’s propaganda loudspeakers would operate along the entire border by the end of October.
