It has been confirmed that around 20 North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL, also known as the armistice line) four days ago, on the 19th, before retreating.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 23rd, approximately 20 North Korean soldiers violated the MDL within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the western front on the 19th. The South Korean military issued a warning broadcast and then fired warning shots. The North Korean soldiers reportedly retreated immediately afterward.
On the same day that the North Korean soldiers crossed the armistice line, one North Korean soldier crossed the MDL on the central front and expressed his intention to defect to the South Korean military. According to military officials, the location where the North Korean soldiers crossed the MDL was unrelated to the defection incident, and it is presumed that they temporarily crossed the MDL while working in a forward area such as a wasteland. A representative from the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Our military is closely monitoring the movements of North Korean troops and taking necessary actions in accordance with operational procedures."
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