Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
South Korean troops patrolling the DMZ on April 23. Photo by Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
North and South Korean troops exchanged fire across the Demilitarized Zone on Sunday. The South Korean military suffered no casualties, and officials said it’s unlikely that North Korea had any casualties, according to AP.
Why it matters: It's the first violent confrontation between the two countries on the border since 2017, and it comes after weeks of conflicting reports about the health of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
Details: The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said in a statement that North Korean soldiers fired at a South Korean guard post inside the border zone.
- South Korean troops responded with a total of 20 rounds of warning shots on two occasions before issuing a warning broadcast, per AP.
- South Korean officials believe North Korea’s firing was not a calculated provocation, though the Seoul military reported that it will continue examining whether there was any motivation for the action.
Background: The DMZ is the most militarized border in the world, acting as a 155-mile-long buffer zone between the two countries with mines, guard posts and nearly 2 million troops on both sides.
- North and South Korea began destroying some guard posts and eliminating mines in 2018 in an effort to reduce tensions, but diplomacy has stalled since the breakdown of nuclear talks between Kim and President Trump.
The big picture: The exchange comes a day after North Korea broadcast a video of Kim visiting a fertilizer factory near Pyongyang.
- It was his first public appearance in weeks amid speculation about his health and whereabouts.
- A senior South Korean official said Sunday Kim Jong-un did not undergo surgery or any other medical procedure as earlier reports had indicated, Politico reports.