CNN reports that North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)in the latest exchange in escalating tensions on the peninsula.

South Korea alleged North Korean forces planted land mines in the neutral DMZ that two weeks ago almost killed two South Korean soldiers.  South Korea’s response was to resume loudspeaker broadcasts across the DMZ.  North Korea protested and fired two rockets in the vicinity of the speakers.  South Korea responded with 36 round artillery shell barrage.

This is just the latest in a series of skirmishes between the two countries but the most intense since the sinking of a South Korean ship in disputed waters in 2009.  There are currently ongoing allied military exercises in South Korea consisting of 28,000 troops.