(LEAD) Defense ministry voices 'grave concern' over N. Korea heightening border tensions with threats

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SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry on Tuesday expressed "grave concerns" over North Korea escalating border tensions with threats and its criticism of South Korea's military operations conducted in response to the North's repeated border intrusions violating the armistice agreement.

The ministry's statement came a day after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts against Seoul and deploy more tactical strike assets along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), saying the border situation has become "very unstable."

In a commentary released by state media Monday, she cited in specific numbers the warning shots and broadcasts from the South, claiming that those operations are intended to hamper its border fortification work.

"The Ministry of National Defense expresses grave concern over Kim Yo-jong's criticism of our military's legitimate operations conducted under the Armistice Agreement, as well as her escalation of tensions through military threats," it said in a statement.

"The warning broadcasts and warning shots conducted by our military near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) are legitimate and defensive measures intended to prevent North Korean troops from violating the MDL and to repel those that cross it," the ministry said.

South Korea will "retaliate decisively" if the North engages in further provocations using the "legitimate" measures taken by Seoul as a pretext, the ministry warned, vowing consistent responses in accordance with the principles of the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

The ministry also urged Pyongyang to cease its far-fetched claims and incursions into the MDL and respond to Seoul's calls for efforts to resolve issues related to the border lines.

The Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul (Yonhap)

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) N.K. leader's sister calls situation at southern border 'very unstable'

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(LEAD) Defense ministry voices 'grave concern' over N. Korea heightening border tensions with threats

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首尔，10月20日（韩联社）——韩国国防部周二对朝鲜通过威胁加剧边境紧张局势，以及批评韩国针对朝鲜屡次违反停战协定的边境入侵而采取的军事行动表示“严重关切”。

该部发表声明的前一天，朝鲜领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正威胁要恢复对首尔的宣传广播，并在非军事区沿线部署更多战术打击力量，称边境局势已变得“非常不稳定”。

周一，她在国家媒体发表的评论中，具体列举了南方发出的警告射击和广播的数量，声称这些行动旨在阻碍其边境防御工事建设工作。

“国防部对金与正批评我军根据停战协定进行的合法军事行动，以及她通过军事威胁加剧紧张局势表示严重关切。”声明中写道。

“我军在军事分界线附近进行的警告广播和警告射击是合法的防御措施，旨在防止朝鲜军队违反军事分界线，并击退越过该线的人员，”国防部表示。

韩国国防部警告称，如果朝鲜以首尔采取的“合法”措施为借口进行进一步挑衅，韩国将“果断反击”，并誓言将根据结束1950-53年朝鲜战争的停战协定的原则做出一致的回应。

该部还敦促平壤停止其牵强附会的说法和对军事分界线的侵犯，并回应首尔关于努力解决与边界线有关问题的呼吁。

位于首尔龙山区的韩国国防部总部（韩联社）

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（导语）朝鲜领导人妹妹称南部边境局势“非常不稳定”

朝鲜威胁在边境部署更多武器后，韩国最高军事官员下令采取强硬回应措施。

（导语）韩国国防部对朝鲜以威胁手段加剧边境紧张局势表示“严重关切”。