South Korea orders firm military response to North Korean provocations

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung ordered troops to respond decisively to further North Korean provocations after Pyongyang threatened to reinforce weapons along the border.

South Korea's Defense Ministry expressed serious concern over a statement by Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It described warning broadcasts and shots near the Military Demarcation Line as lawful defensive measures.

Seoul urged Pyongyang to stop crossing the line and respond to proposals to resolve border issues. Jin also called the recent explosion of a mine that South Korean authorities say was planted by the North a provocation and an armistice violation.

A day earlier, Kim accused South Korean troops of threatening North Korean personnel building border fortifications. She claimed Seoul conducted 2 thousand 870 warning broadcasts and opened warning fire on 201 occasions from August 1 to October 17.

Kim said North Korea's military leadership was considering reinforcing tactical strike assets along the southern border and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts towards South Korea.