Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, Strongly Condemns North Korean Military Provocation Crossing the Military Demarcation Line

Statement Issued on the Evening of the 8th: "Our Warning Shots Were Legitimate Measures"
Emergency Integrated Defense Council Meeting Scheduled in Gangwon Province on the Morning of the 9th

Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province and Chairman of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Integrated Defense Council, issued a statement on the evening of the 8th strongly condemning the military provocation by about 10 North Korean soldiers who crossed the Military Demarcation Line in the Gangwon area around 5 p.m. that day.

A North Korean military outpost inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In the statement, Governor Kim said, "This incident is a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement, and our military's immediate warning broadcast and warning shots were legitimate measures to protect the lives of our people and our territory."

He also urged the government and military to "raise the alert posture to the highest level in response to North Korea's threats."

Gangwon Province plans to hold an emergency security countermeasure meeting of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Integrated Defense Council at 9:30 a.m. on the 9th at the Gangwon Provincial Office, emphasizing that "we will respond to ensure the safety of residents without wavering in the face of any threat."

Meanwhile, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that around 5 p.m. on the 8th, about 10 North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of the eastern front, prompting the South Korean military to immediately conduct warning broadcasts and warning shots. It is reported that all North Korean soldiers were armed.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "At 5 p.m. on the eastern front DMZ, about 10 North Korean soldiers crossed the MDL, and our military conducted warning broadcasts and warning shots," adding, "The North Korean soldiers then retreated northward." They further said, "Our military is closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean soldiers and taking necessary measures according to operational procedures."