South Korea's military last week fired warning shots after ​North Korean soldiers violated the military ‌demarcation line, prompting them to return, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday, ​citing an unnamed source.

Yonhap said ​multiple North Korean soldiers crossed the ⁠military demarcation line (MDL) in the eastern ​area of the demilitarised zone, in ​the first reported MDL violation by the North Korean military this year.

The soldiers were ​likely patrolling the area when ​they crossed the MDL, and no other ‌unusual ⁠activity was reported after the North Korean soldiers returned, Yonhap said.

The North Korean embassy in Singapore did not ​immediately ​respond to ⁠a request for comment.

North Korean troops violated the MDL ​17 times last year, ​the ⁠news agency said. The two Koreas are still technically at war after ⁠their ​1950-53 war ended in ​an armistice rather than a peace treaty.