The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported on March 27 that operations near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) north of the border, which had been suspended since December, resumed in early March.
Following North Korea’s nullification of the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement in November 2023, Pyongyang has continued its efforts to physically isolate itself from South Korea. The ongoing activities north of the MDL include erecting barbed wire fences, removing streetlights along the East Sea Line, and dismantling railway tracks. Intelligence reports suggest that landmines have also been planted in the vicinity of inter-Korean connecting roads.
The JCS emphasized that South Korean forces are maintaining a robust defense posture while effectively managing the military situation.
Since March of last year, North Korean troops have violated the MDL on approximately ten occasions, with incursions continuing until December.
In response to these MDL violations, South Korean forces have employed warning broadcasts and warning shots as deterrent measures.