UN Command: Both Koreas violate armistice

A U.N. investigation into a recent exchange of gunfire between the two Koreas has determined that both countries violated the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, the American-led U.N. Command said Tuesday.

The May 3 gunfire exchange was the first shooting inside the Korean Demilitarized Zone in about two and a half years.

There were no known casualties on either side.

The DMZ, which was established as a buffer at the end of the Korean War, is a de facto border separating North and South Korea.

It is officially jointly overseen by North Korea and the U.N. Command.

The U.N. Command said in a statement that a multinational special investigation team led the probe with the full cooperation of the South Korean military.

It said it invited North Korea to provide information on the incident but the country hasn't offered a formal response.

The investigation ruled that North Korea breached the armistice by firing four rounds and South Korea by returning fire, according to the statement.

It said the investigation was unable to determine if the North Korean rounds were fired intentionally or by mistake.