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South Korea fires warning shots at North after drone peeps over border

The unidentified aerial vehicle flew across the border and encroached into South Korean territory by some “tens of metres”, the defence ministry said.

North Korea DMZ File photo. North Korean soldiers guard the truce village of Panmunjom at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which separates the two Koreas. Wong Maye-E / PA Wire Wong Maye-E / PA Wire / PA Wire

SOUTH KOREA SOLDIERS fired warning shots at a suspected North Korean drone today that crossed the tense border, the defence ministry said.

The unidentified aerial vehicle flew across the border and encroached into South Korean territory by some “tens of metres”, the defence ministry said.

The incursion occurred near South Korea’s Mount Dora Observation Post, some 47 kilometres north of Seoul, at 2:10 pm (05:10 GMT).

South Korean soldiers responded by sounding broadcasts and firing warning shots before “the vehicle immediately returned to the north,” the ministry said.

South Korea Koras Tension A man watches a TV news program showing an unmanned North Korean drone that crashed in the south in April 2014. Associated Press Associated Press

Yonhap news agency said about 20 rounds had been fired as warning shots from a machine gun.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye has urged the international community, and in particular China, to ensure that North Korea receives the strongest possible punishment for its latest nuclear test.

Her comments came as North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un defiantly told his scientists to swell the size of the country’s nuclear arsenal with more powerful bombs capable of striking the United States.

Describing last week’s test as a gross provocation and an “unacceptable challenge” to global peace and security, Park said it was time to adopt a harsher line with the recalcitrant regime in Pyongyang.

South Korea North Korea DMZ A view of Ki Jong Dong, North Korea, seen from Observation Post Ouellette in the Demilitarized Zone. Susan Walsh / PA Wire Susan Walsh / PA Wire / PA Wire

“The international community’s countermeasures against North Korea’s last nuclear test must differ from the past,” Park told an annual press conference.

As well as working with the United Nations to adopt the “strongest” resolution to penalise North Korea, Seoul would also discuss additional “punitive sanctions” with the United States and its allies, Park said.

The president stressed that China, North Korea’s main ally and economic benefactor, would be critical in securing an effective Security Council resolution.

© – AFP 2016

Read: US reacts to North Korea’s nuclear test with bomber plane flyover >

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    Mute Derek
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    Jan 13th 2016, 8:30 AM

    Ah lads, calm down. He was only playing with his Xmas present.

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    Mute Rodger 5
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    Jan 13th 2016, 8:46 AM

    My neighbours curtains are always twitching,

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Jan 13th 2016, 8:57 AM

    The postman always rings twice though.

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    Mute Joe Smith
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    Jan 13th 2016, 8:46 AM

    Absolute insanity, if you were watching it as a movie you’d say it was ridiculous, to far fetched. Not unlike our own situation in the north, as tensions rise, marching season etc. The stupidest things take on such great significance

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 9:43 AM

    They are still technically at war with one another so crossing the border and intervening demilitarised zone with a surveillance drone could be interpreted in an aggressive manner. The South Koreans merely opened up a few warning shots to ‘convince’ the drone pilot to turn around.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:42 AM

    Twenty shots, and missed it?
    I hope they never invade.

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    Mute Bazzio101
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    Jan 13th 2016, 12:06 PM

    Drones rule Nth Korea

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