North Korea threatens South’s ships after sea border chase

In this Oct, 17, 2015, file photo, a South Korean navy patrol boat fires during an exercise off South Korea’s southeastern coast near Busan, South Korea. South Korea’s navy on Friday, May 27, 2016, fired warning shots to chase away two North Korean ships after they briefly crossed a disputed western sea boundary, Seoul defense officials said. AP FILE PHOTO

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has threatened to fire at South Korean warships if they cross a disputed western sea border a day after the South’s navy fired warning shots to chase away two North Korean ships that briefly crossed the boundary.

READ: South Korea navy fires warning shots after North incursion

The General Staff of North Korea’s Korean People’s Army on Saturday released a statement through state media calling the South’s action a “reckless military provocation” meant to kill the chances for dialogue between the countries.

The KPA says it will directly fire without warning at South Korean warships if they intrude the sea border by “even 0.001 millimeters.”

North Korea in recent weeks has been demanding the South to accept its calls to resume talks after months of animosities triggered by Pyongyang’s January nuclear test. Seoul has rejected the overture.

READ: Korea leader says will use nuclear weapons if sovereignty ‘encroached’