Dozens of North Korean soldiers crossed the border into South Korea

Several dozen North Korean soldiers crossed the border into South Korea and then retreated after warning shots were fired by the South Korean army, the South Korean General Staff said on Tuesday.

“Dozens of North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line and retreated north after warning shots were fired from the south,” the General Staff said.

The South Korean military fired warning shots. Yonhap News Agency said it did not believe the violation was intentional, Reuters reported.

North Korea’s armed forces are conducting various activities along the front line, including stationing soldiers and laying mines, the General Staff spokesman added.

The invasion came just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea for a rare state visit.