The North Korean military has threatened to open direct fire without warning at any South Korean warship that intrudes even an inch across the maritime Military Demarcation Line. 
 
In a notice issued Saturday, the General Staff of the North's People's Army criticized the South’s warning shots fired at its vessels that crossed the maritime DMZ border, calling it a "premeditated plot to intensify inter-Korean tension."
 
The General Staff claimed the reckless military provocation waged against unarmed boats is a contrived scheme to aggravate North-South relations and further intensify tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
 
In a "major announcement" Friday night, the Supreme Command of the North Korean People's Army claimed that the firing was a "calculated military provocation" by the South.
 
The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff called the claim preposterous and warned stern retaliation if the North launched a provocation.