South Korea’s military pushed back against claims that its troops have increasingly overlooked North Korean soldiers crossing the inter-Korean border, denying that commanders have eased their response to incursions along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

“Our military is taking firm operational measures against North Korean violations of the MDL in accordance with established standards and principles,” the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement provided to NK News on Wednesday. 

The statement followed a report from the local media outlet Chosun Ilbo, which reported a senior Defense Ministry official instructed the military late last year to