(VOVworld) – North Korea has refused to shell on South Korea, accusing Seoul on making up the story. At a press conference on Friday, Kim Young Chol, director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau under the Minitry of People’s Armed Forces, said tension between the two Koreas was due to provocation from South Korea.

North Korea's General Reconnaissance Bureau Director Kim Yong Chol (Photo: AFP)

He said South Korea fired a barrage of artillery rounds into North Korea on Thursday after the North shelled across the border to protest against anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts by Seoul, moves that raised tensions on the divided peninsula. Mr. Kim Young Chol said Seoul’s accusation is groundless and not based on any scientific evidence. North Korea’s News Agency said North Korea’s frontline military units are ready for any military operation.

On the same day, South Korean Ministry of Defence Han Min-Koo said Seoul would take a harsh retaliation measure if Pyongyang has any provocative action.