North, South Korea exchange fire

Tensions between North and South Korea escalated when the two countries exchanged fire on Thursday, according to news reports.

The South Korean Defense Ministry said it detected incoming ammunition — likely a small rocket — fired toward the western Gyeonggi province, according to CNN. South Korean military forces responded by lobbing artillery shells back at the source of the alleged attack.

{mosads}No injuries have been reported.

The exchange follows Monday’s launch of the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian events in South Korea. The multinational military exercises infuriate North Korea, as it finds its southern neighbor teaming with America, Australia, Britain, Canada and other international allies.

“[The military exercises’ purpose is] to enhance … readiness, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula,” according to a statement from the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command.

Pyongyang strongly condemned the yearly military training operations in a statement issued last weekend.

“[North Korea] will retaliate against the U.S. with tremendous muscle” if Ulchi goes on as planned, said a spokesman for North Korea’s National Defense Commission. “The army and people of the DPRK are no longer what they used to be in the past when they had to counter U.S. nukes with rifles.”

“[North Korea] is the invincible power equipped with the latest offensive and defensive means unknown to the world,” he added.

CNN said on Thursday that two South Korean soldiers were seriously injured earlier this month by landmines in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Seoul has since accused its northern neighbor of planting the explosives in the contested boundary.

Both Koreas have resumed blaring propaganda messages at one another across the DMZ, CNN added.