Around 20 North Korean soldiers crossed into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) border last weekend, prompting South Korea to fire warning shots until they retreated, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday.

Kim Jong Un made the comments at the groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial for North Korean soldiers who fought for Russia in its war with Ukraine, state media said.

A North Korean soldier has defected to South Korea across the rivals’ heavily fortified border. The South Korean military says it took the custody of the soldier who crossed the central portion of the land border on Sunday.

Since last year, North Korea has further reinforced its side of the border with anti-tank barriers and other fortifications, South Korean officials said, amid Kim's move to officially abandon his country's decades-long goal of eventual reunification.

North Korea test fired ballistic missiles days before President Donald Trump's Asia trip to meet China's Xi Jinping and other leaders in South Korea.

At a military parade earlier this month, Kim Jong-un unveiled some of his military's newest weapons, including what appeared to be a short-range ballistic system fitted with hypersonic glide vehicles.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un says the ‘military brotherhood’ between his country and Russia will ‘advance non-stop.’ He spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony to honor DPRK soldiers who fought alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region.

The US president says he has a "great relationship" with the North Korean leader and is "open" to a face-to-face chat.