South Korea orders stern response to any North Korean provocations amid border tensions

Military chief issues directive after Pyongyang threatens weapons deployments, propaganda broadcasts along border

South Korea's top military officer on Tuesday ordered troops to respond decisively to any North Korean provocations a day after Pyongyang threatened additional weapons deployments and renewed propaganda broadcasts along their heavily fortified border.

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman General Jin Yong-sung issued the directive during a visit to a central front-line military unit, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Jin rejected North Korea's accusation that Seoul was responsible for escalating tensions following a September 21 landmine explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers. He said Pyongyang's attempt to portray legitimate South Korean military operations as provocations was unacceptable.

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He ordered troops to respond firmly to further provocations and violations of the armistice agreement, including incursions across the Military Demarcation Line.

A day earlier, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned that Pyongyang could resume loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts and deploy additional tactical strike weapons along the border.

She accused Seoul of using warning shots and broadcasts to obstruct North Korea's border fortification work.

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Jin described the September explosion involving North Korean-planted antipersonnel mines as a clear provocation and armistice violation.

The incident has heightened tensions around the Demilitarised Zone, which separates the two Koreas, which are technically still at war, as the 1950–1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.