North Korea on Saturday condemned South Korea for firing warning shots at its soldiers as they approached the military demarcation line (MDL), warning that such "provocations" will "lead to a great war of justice."

"Recently the South Korean puppet military...have gone extremely reckless in making provocations in the area of the military demarcation line," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported a statement from the Korean People's Army (KPA).

"If they continue the military provocation despite our warning, they will have to pay at the cost of their blood," it controlled, adding that "patrolling in the north's area of the MDL belongs to our legitimate right."

The warning came after South Korean troops fired warning shots Monday after a North Korean patrol approached the tensely guarded land border that separates the rival countries. The North Korean soldiers moved away from the MDL without firing back.

"They were taking pictures of the signposts set up there to mark the demilitarized zone," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier.

Last month, South and North Korea also exchanged fire after troops from the communist country drew near the MDL. No casualties were reported.

(Yonhap)