(VOVWORLD) - Both South and North Korea violated the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement during an exchange of gunfire in the demilitarized zone earlier this month, the UN Command said Tuesday.
 Demilitarized zone (DMZ), region on the Korean peninsula that demarcates North Korea from South Korea. (Photo: Yonhap/VNA) |
The statement follows a weeks-long investigation into the May 3 incident, when four bullets from the North hit a South Korean guard post, prompting South Korean troops to return fire. The UN Command concluded that both Koreas committed Armistice Agreement violations, but the investigation was unable to definitively determine whether the North's gunshots were fired intentionally or by mistake.
US and South Korean military authorities have said they believe the incident was not an intentional provocation, based on evidence secured from various intelligence sources.
South Korea's Defence Ministry said it regrets the UN Command's findings and lack of substantive investigation into North Korea's role. The South Korean military followed proper procedures in responding to the shooting, a Defence Ministry statement said.