(2nd LD) S. Korea warns of 'decisive retaliation' as N. Korea threatens to deploy strike assets to border

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(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout; ADDS byline) By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea vowed Tuesday to take decisive action if North Korea launches any further provocations, pushing back after Pyongyang threatened military escalation over warning shots fired by the South along the fortified border.

The defense ministry issued such a statement 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) separating the two Koreas, saying the border situation has become "very unstable."

"The Ministry of National Defense expresses grave concern over Director 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," the released statement said.

"We will retaliate decisively should North Korea engage in further provocations using our legitimate measures as a pretext," it added.

The ministry urged Pyongyang to cease its far-fetched claims and repeated incursions south of the military demarcation line (MDL), and respond to Seoul's calls for efforts to resolve issues related to the border line.

Fresh tensions have flared up since the Sept. 21 land mine explosions inside the DMZ that injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul and the United Nations Command (UNC) have determined that anti-personnel mines planted by Pyongyang in violation of the Armistice Agreement caused the incident. The North has categorically denied its involvement in the blast.

The ministry denounced Kim Yo-jong for aggravating the situation and attempting to place the blame on Seoul for the heightened border tensions, vowing to respond in accordance with Armistice Agreement principles.

A North Korean loudspeaker is installed along the banks of the Imjin River, seen from the border area of Paju, just north of Seoul, on Oct. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

In a commentary released by state media, Kim cited precise figures for the warning shots and loudspeaker broadcasts from the South since August, charging that those operations were aimed at disrupting its border fortification work.

Seoul stressed that the warning broadcasts and warning shots were "legitimate and defensive" measures intended to prevent North Korean troops from violating the MDL, and to repel those that cross it.

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung visited a central front-line unit earlier in the day and ordered troops to sternly respond to any enemy provocations, slamming the North for shifting the blame for heightened border tensions to Seoul.

The top South Korean military officer also instructed the military to execute operations to "reinforce South Korea's initiative in the DMZ," the JCS said.

Speaking to reporters on background, a JCS official explained that the "initiative" meant having military capabilities to create "favorable conditions to achieve operational goals and steer operations in the intended direction."

The official did not provide further details of what those operations would entail, citing operational security reasons.

A military source noted such an initiative to reinforce dominance in the DMZ may include operational and tactical measures, such as clearing new paths for patrol purposes or to maneuver military equipment.

It may also involve force enhancements to minimize surveillance gaps, including the installation of multipurpose guard towers and retractable front line guard posts, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A defense ministry official said the military will not rule out the resumption of anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts as a proportional countermeasure.

"If the North does that (resume loudspeaker broadcasts), we would certainly need to take corresponding action," the official said. "We are not ruling out any measures."

The JCS official highlighted that the North has been keeping precise tallies of the South's warning shots and broadcasts.

"This is an indication that our military's stern response, executed in strict accordance with operational protocols, has had a clear impact (on Pyongyang)," he said.

This file photo, captured from video footage released by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, shows a military mine-clearing operation south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, on Oct. 5, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

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

S. Korea's top military officer orders stern responses after N.K. threatens to deploy more weapons along border

(2nd LD) S. Korea warns of 'decisive retaliation' as N. Korea threatens to deploy strike assets to border

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注意：更改标题、导语；全文更新更多细节；添加署名）金承妍

首尔，10月20日（韩联社）——韩国周二誓言，如果朝鲜发动任何进一步的挑衅，韩国将采取果断行动。此前，平壤威胁称，如果韩国沿边境戒备森严的地区鸣枪示警，韩国将采取军事升级行动。

在朝鲜领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正威胁要恢复对首尔进行宣传广播，并在分隔朝韩的非军事区（DMZ）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”的第二天，韩国国防部发表了这样的声明。

“国防部对金与正部长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。” 国防部发表的声明称。

“如果朝鲜以我们的合法措施为借口，进一步挑衅，我们将予以坚决反击。”声明补充道。

该部敦促平壤停止其牵强附会的说法和一再越过军事分界线（MDL）的行为，并回应首尔关于努力解决与边界线有关问题的呼吁。

自9月21日非军事区内发生地雷爆炸事件，造成三名韩国士兵受伤以来，双方紧张局势再度升级。首尔和联合国军司令部认定，平壤违反停战协定埋设的杀伤人员地雷是造成此次事件的原因。朝鲜断然否认参与爆炸事件。

该部谴责金与正加剧局势，并试图将边境紧张局势升级的责任归咎于首尔，誓言将按照停战协定原则作出回应。

2026年10月20日，从首尔以北的坡州边境地区拍摄的照片显示，朝鲜在临津江岸边安装了一个扩音器。（韩联社）

金正恩在朝鲜官方媒体发表的评论中，列举了自8月以来韩国鸣枪示警和用扩音器广播的具体数字，指责这些行动旨在破坏朝鲜的边境防御工事建设。

首尔方面强调，发出警告广播和鸣枪示警是“合法且防御性的”措施，旨在防止朝鲜军队违反军事分界线，并击退越过该分界线的军队。

韩国联合参谋本部议长晋勇成当天早些时候视察了中央前线部队，命令部队对任何敌方挑衅行为予以严厉回应，并抨击朝鲜将边境紧张局势加剧的责任推卸给首尔。

韩国联合参谋本部表示，韩国最高军事官员还指示军队执行行动，“加强韩国在非军事区的主动权”。

一位参谋长联席会议官员在接受记者采访时解释说，这项“倡议”意味着拥有军事能力，以创造“有利条件，实现作战目标，并引导作战朝着既定方向发展”。

出于行动安全考虑，该官员没有提供这些行动的具体细节。

一位军方消息人士指出，此类旨在加强非军事区优势的举措可能包括作战和战术措施，例如为巡逻目的清理新路径或调动军事装备。

据一位不愿透露姓名的消息人士称，这可能还包括加强警力部署以减少监控漏洞，例如安装多功能警卫塔和可伸缩的前线警卫哨所。

国防部一名官员表示，军方不会排除恢复反平壤扩音器广播作为相应的反制措施。

“如果朝鲜真的那样做（恢复扩音器广播），我们肯定需要采取相应的行动，”这位官员说。“我们不排除任何措施。”

联合参谋本部官员强调，朝鲜一直在精确统计韩国的警告射击和广播次数。

他说：“这表明，我军严格按照作战规程采取的严厉回应，已经对平壤产生了明显的影响。”

这张资料照片截取自韩国联合参谋本部发布的视频片段，显示2026年10月5日，在朝韩非军事区内、军事分界线以南地区，正在进行军事排雷行动。（照片不得出售）（韩联社）

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

（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。

（第二份声明）韩国警告称，朝鲜威胁向边境部署打击力量，韩国将采取“果断报复”。