North Korea fires artillery shells during US defense chief's DMZ visit

North Korea conducted artillery exercises near the Demilitarized Zone shortly before US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's scheduled visit to the sensitive border area with South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that approximately ten artillery shells were fired from multiple rocket launchers toward waters in the northern Yellow Sea less than sixty minutes before the American defense official's arrival at Camp Bonifas within the Joint Security Area.

High-Level Diplomatic Visit

The coordinated border inspection marked the first joint visit to the DMZ by American and South Korean defense chiefs since 2017, underscoring the strategic importance both allies place on maintaining security along the world's most heavily fortified frontier. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Ahn toured Observation Post Ouellette, a United Nations Command facility positioned near the Military Demarcation Line that separates North and South Korean forces.

Recent Pattern of Provocations

Monday's artillery firing continues a pattern of North Korean military demonstrations coinciding with high-profile American diplomatic engagements. Last month, Pyongyang launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles approximately one week before President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to South Korea, suggesting a calculated strategy of timed provocations during significant diplomatic moments.

Military Readiness and Response

South Korea's military command emphasized maintaining vigilant surveillance of North Korean activities while operating under combined defense arrangements with American forces. Military officials stated they maintain "capabilities and a posture capable of overwhelmingly responding to any threat," reflecting the ongoing tension along the border despite the technically ongoing ceasefire between the two Koreas.