On Oct. 29, 2010, North Korean troops fired precisely two shots near a South Korean guard post along the border, prompting the South to fire three shots in return. It was believed to be the first exchange of fire on land since 2006, the Guardian reported.
The skirmish came six months after the sinking of the South Korean naval corvette Cheonan, for which the South said it was cutting off diplomatic ties with the North until Pyongyang issued an apology. But instead of offering any such reconciliation, the North warned on Oct. 29 – coinciding with the exchange of military fire – that bilateral relations would face a "catastrophic impact" if the South continued to reject talks, reported Agence France-Presse.
