South Korea fired dozens of artillery rounds toward North Korea on Thursday after the North shelled across the border to protest against anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts by Seoul – the first exchange of fire in 10 months.
North Korea did not return fire but warned Seoul in a letter that it would take military action if the South did not stop the loudspeaker broadcasts along the border within 48 hours, the South’s Defense Ministry said.
In a separate letter, Pyongyang said it was willing to offer an opening to resolve the conflict even though it considers the broadcasts a declaration of war, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said.
A South Korean military official said the broadcasts would continue. Seoul began blasting anti-North Korean propaganda from loudspeakers on the border on Aug.10, resuming a tactic that both sides had halted in 2004.
South Korea said the North had fired one anti-aircraft shell followed by multiple shells from a direct fire weapon on Thursday.
South Korea’s military, which said it fired dozens of artillery rounds in response, raised its alert status to the highest level.
Both countries said there were no casualties or damage in their territory.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye told defense officials to “react firmly” to North Korean provocations, a spokesman quoted her as saying.
Reuters
