North Korea Warns South Of 'Great War Of Justice,’ For Firing Warning Shots

North Korean officials condemned warning shots fired at its soldiers Saturday, near the military demarcation line, or MDL, on Monday. The country said that such "provocations" will "lead to a great war of justice," Yonhap, a South Korean news agency, reported, citing the KCNA, the North’s state-run news agency.

South Korean troops had fired shots to stop a North Korean patrol, who approached the heavily guarded border between the two countries. The North Korean soldiers did not fire back and moved away after the shots were fired, Yonhap reported, citing KCNA.

"Recently the South Korean puppet military... have gone extremely reckless in making provocations in the area of the military demarcation line," KCNA said, according to Yonhap, adding: "If they continue the military provocation despite our warning, they will have to pay at the cost of their blood." North Korea reportedly also said that "patrolling in the north's area of the MDL belongs to our legitimate right."

Last month, both countries fired shots at each other, after the North’s military shot down balloons launched by South Korean activists, which were carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets. Following the incident, firing continued between both sides, while North Korea also scrapped high-level talks with the South later. The North Korean government had said that it warned Seoul would face an “uncontrollable catastrophe,” if the campaign went on, but South Korean activists had continued the campaign, nevertheless.