Dozens of North Korean troops have repeatedly violated the demilitarized zone with South Korea ahead of Putin's visit

North Korea's military has violated the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the communist nation from South Korea multiple times this month.

North Korean soldiers were spotted inside the DMZ on Tuesday morning, apparently working on a project in the restricted area.

South Korean military officials released photos of the incursion by North Korean soldiers around 8:30 a.m., who the Joint Chiefs of Staff said were carrying work equipment.

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South Korean soldiers fired warning shots to scare off the North Koreans, who dispersed and re-entered their own border.

About 20 to 30 North Koreans are believed to have entered the DMZ during the incident.

Similar incursions into the DMZ were reported earlier this month, when a large group of North Korean troops entered the restricted area on June 9.

Timeline of Russia-North Korea relations before Putin's meeting with Kim Jong Un

PAJU, South Korea – 2024/05/18: A view of Kaesong from Mount Dora inside the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Korean DMZ spans 160 miles (258 km) and acts as a buffer between North and South Korea. It was created in 1953 by the Korean Armistice Agreement, which involved North Korea, China and the United Nations Command. (Photo by Jasmine Leung/Sopa Images/Lightrocket via Getty Images)

The June 9 incident prompted similar outcry from South Korean guards, who broadcast warning messages and fired warning shots until the interlopers fled the area.

The interaction has raised tensions between the two Koreas as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to host Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.

Putin is visiting Pyongyang for two days starting Tuesday as he conducts his first official state visit to the communist country in 24 years.

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In this unreleased photo provided by South Korea's Defense Ministry on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, North Korean soldiers work at an undisclosed location near the border area, as seen from South Korea's guard area. South Korean troops fired warning shots to repel North Korean troops who temporarily crossed the rivals' land border on Tuesday for the second time this month, South Korea's military said. (South Korean Defense Ministry via AP)

Russia has kept the much smaller and economically fragile North Korea as an ally as Western powers have imposed heavy sanctions over an invasion of Ukraine.

North Korea has, over the past few years, acted as a valuable intermediary for Russia and China, conducting business and manufacturing activities outside the purview of international law.