North and South Korea exchange fire at the border

North Korea and South Korea have exchanged fire around the South Guard Post, raising tensions a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended with an absence of nearly three weeks in public life.

Multiple shots were fired from North Korea at 7.41 a.m. local time, to a guard post in South Korea bordering the north, South Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul says North Korean troops fired several bullets at a South Korean guard post inside the heavily fortified border between the countries on Sunday.

South Korea responded by firing two shots at North Korea.

No injuries were reported.

The shooting was exchanged just hours after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was seen publicly for the first time in weeks.

After weeks of intense speculation about Kim’s health and whereabouts, the country’s official media released photos on Saturday showing Kim attending a ceremony for the completion of a fertilizer plant.

It was the first report of his appearance since April 11.

Some suspected the images released by Yonhap news agency, with a sharp-eyed CNN correspondent noticing a detail in one of the recently released photos that sparked controversy.

“It’s conveniently framed under a banner with the date May 1. Let’s see if they release a video,” CNN’s Will Ripley shared on social media.

The media is tightly controlled in North Korea and is often accused of spreading propaganda.