South Korean Soldier Accidentally Fires Weapon in DMZ

Cheorwon County, South Korea — A South Korean soldier accidentally discharged a machine gun last week while inspecting the weapon at a guard post in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The incident took place around 6 a.m. on Wednesday. A ministry spokesman informed Stars and Stripes about the situation in a text message on Monday. In response to the accidental firing, the South Korean military broadcast a message across the border to North Korea, clarifying that the gunfire was not intentional.

No unusual movements by North Korean forces were detected following the incident, the spokesman added. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or damage as a result of the discharge.

It is common practice in South Korea for some government officials to communicate with the media anonymously.

The two Koreas have remained technically at war since the end of the Korean War in 1953, which concluded with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Despite occasional skirmishes at the border, both sides generally maintain a fragile ceasefire agreement in the DMZ, which is approximately 2½ miles wide and spans a 155-mile border.