Why does South Korea say its warning broadcasts and shots near the Military Demarcation Line are legal?

The South Korean defense ministry says the measures are legitimate and defensive under the Armistice Agreement. It says they are intended to prevent North Korean troops from violating the Military Demarcation Line and to repel those who cross it.

How would South Korea respond to further North Korean provocations at the border?

South Korea warned that it would retaliate decisively if North Korea used Seoul’s legitimate defensive measures as a pretext for further provocations. The ministry said responses would remain consistent with the principles of the Armistice Agreement and urged Pyongyang to address border-line issues through dialogue.

Defense ministry voices 'grave concern' over N. Korea heightening border tensions with threats

Q: What did Kim Yo-jong threaten to do at the inter-Korean border?

Kim Yo-jong threatened to resume North Korean propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts against Seoul and deploy more tactical strike assets along the Demilitarized Zone. She said the border situation had become very unstable.

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Summary

The South Korean defense ministry expressed grave concern Tuesday over North Korea’s threats and criticism of military operations near the border. Kim Yo-jong threatened to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy more tactical strike assets along the Demilitarized Zone, saying the border situation had become very unstable. Seoul said its warning broadcasts and warning shots near the Military Demarcation Line were legitimate defensive measures and warned of decisive retaliation against further provocations.

Key Facts

Kim Yo-jong said North Korea could resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts against Seoul and deploy additional tactical strike assets along the Demilitarized Zone.
The ministry said its warning broadcasts and warning shots were conducted to prevent North Korean troops from violating the Military Demarcation Line and to repel troops that cross it.
South Korea said it would respond decisively to further North Korean provocations while following the principles of the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
The ministry urged Pyongyang to stop what it called far-fetched claims and incursions into the Military Demarcation Line and respond to Seoul’s calls to resolve border-line issues.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 20, 2026 11:17 am KST
Updated Oct 20, 2026 1:55 pm KST

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul speaks during a visit to the Marine Corps headquarters in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Yonhap

The defense ministry on Tuesday expressed "grave concerns" over North Korea escalating border tensions with threats and its criticism of South Korea's military operations conducted in response to the North's repeated border intrusions violating the armistice agreement.

The ministry's statement came a day after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts against Seoul and deploy more tactical strike assets along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), saying the border situation has become "very unstable."

In a commentary released by state media Monday, she cited in specific numbers the warning shots and broadcasts from the South, claiming that those operations are intended to hamper its border fortification work.

"The Ministry of National Defense expresses grave concern over Kim Yo-jong's criticism of our military's legitimate operations conducted under the Armistice Agreement, as well as her escalation of tensions through military threats," it said in a statement.

"The warning broadcasts and warning shots conducted by our military near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) are legitimate and defensive measures intended to prevent North Korean troops from violating the MDL and to repel those that cross it," the ministry said.

South Korea will "retaliate decisively" if the North engages in further provocations using the "legitimate" measures taken by Seoul as a pretext, the ministry warned, vowing consistent responses in accordance with the principles of the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

The ministry also urged Pyongyang to cease its far-fetched claims and incursions into the MDL and respond to Seoul's calls for efforts to resolve issues related to the border lines.

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