Asia-Pacific

Two Koreas exchange fires near border

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-29 18:14

SEOUL - The troops of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) exchanged fires late Friday near the inter-Korean border in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, Seoul's Ministry of National Defense confirmed to Xinhua.

The military in a DPRK guard post fired two shots toward a ROK's post around 5:26 pm (0826 GMT), and the ROK side immediately returned fire with three shots as agreed under the rules of engagement, the ministry's press office said.

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It has not been confirmed whether the shooting was accidental, it added.

The two military posts are 1.3 km away from each other, an official at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) was quoted by local media as saying, adding that there was no damage from the DPRK's shots.  

The military has strengthened the defense readiness against any contingency, but there has been no further movement by the North side, the official said.  

The US-led United Nations Command (UNC) will reportedly send a special investigation team to determine whether the DPRK had violated terms of the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War.

On the other hand, officials of Seoul's Ministry of Unification told local reporters that the shooting would not affect the reunion event of families separated by the Korean War decades ago, which will kick off Saturday.  

More than 400 ROK citizens, who will participate in the upcoming family reunion event, have gathered in Sokcho, an east coast ROK town. They will head to Mount Kumgang area Saturday to meet their long-lost relatives in the DPRK.