How many North Korean troops crossed the border?

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An Unspecified Number of North Korean Soldiers Briefly Crossed the Border

South Korean military forces fired warning shots after an unspecified number of North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line on Sunday afternoon. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated that the troops immediately returned north after the warning, and the incident is not believed to have been intentional given the densely forested nature of the area.
Border Incursion Details

The incursion occurred around 12:30 PM on Sunday within the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). While the exact number of North Korean soldiers involved was not officially confirmed by Seoul officials, Yonhap news agency, citing an unnamed JCS official, reported that approximately 20 to 30 troops were present. These soldiers were reportedly carrying tools such as pick axes, suggesting they may have been involved in work details or potentially became disoriented.
Military Response and Assessment

Following the border breach, the South Korean military issued warning broadcasts and then fired warning shots. Colonel Lee Sung-jun, a JCS spokesman, indicated that the troops promptly moved back towards the North without any unusual activity. The military's assessment is that the crossing was not an intentional act, attributing it to the obscured border markings in the heavily wooded terrain.
Broader Context of Tensions

This border incident occurred amidst heightened tensions between the two Koreas. Recently, North Korea has been sending large numbers of balloons filled with trash into the South, which it described as a response to South Korean activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets and aid parcels into the North. In reaction to these provocations, South Korea has suspended a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement and resumed military activities near the border, including the reinstallation of loudspeaker broadcasts.

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How many North Korean troops crossed the border?

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