North Korea gives 48-hour ultimatum to South in border standoff

North Korea on Thursday threatened further military action should South Korea continue to broadcast anti-Pyongyang propaganda on loudspeakers across the border.

In a statement, the South’s defense ministry said North Korea’s armed forces sent a letter about 5 p.m., calling the broadcasts a “major challenge” to the North and ordering Seoul to cease the broadcasts within 48 hours, Reuters reported.

North and South Korea exchanged the first live fire in five years Thursday morning. South Korea said it fired tens of artillery rounds toward North Korea after the North fired a projectile toward one of the South Korean loudspeakers.

North Korea said it was convening its Central Military Commission — a top decision-making body run by the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un — on Thursday night after the incident.