Tensions along the Korean border escalated as North Korea’s recent artillery drills and warnings of immediate military retaliation have heightened concerns in the region.
Kim Yo Jong, a significant figure in leader Kim Jong Un’s administration, declared that any provocation against the country would prompt an immediate military response. This announcement followed North Korea’s consecutive days of firing artillery shells near the border with South Korea.
The South Korean military reported that the North launched over 60 artillery rounds on Saturday, continuing a pattern that began the previous day with an initial volley of more than 200 rounds.
Sunday saw a similar event, with North Korea firing around 90 rounds near the disputed maritime border. Despite the firings, North Korea asserted that these actions did not pose a threat to South Korea, clarifying that the drills were conducted parallel to the border.
Kim Yo Jong’s statement, conveyed via the state news agency KCNA, emphasized the readiness of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) to retaliate swiftly to any slight provocation by the enemy. Meanwhile, South Korea responded to the artillery shells by conducting its own sea-based fire drills on Friday. However, reports indicate no plans for similar drills following Saturday’s events.
While the border drills on Friday prompted warnings for residents of South Korean border islands to seek shelter, there were no reported incidents of shells crossing the maritime border. Kim, in her statement, denied the artillery shell firings on Saturday, attributing the explosions to a tactical deception.
In response, South Korea’s military dismissed Kim’s statement as a form of low-level psychological warfare. They urged North Korea to halt military activities that escalate tension in the vicinity of the border. The situation remains tense as both sides navigate this period of heightened military activity and verbal exchanges.
