North and South Korea exchange fire on Workers' Party anniversary

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- South and North Korea exchanged fire Friday, coinciding with Pyongyang's celebration of the 69th anniversary of the Workers' Party.

The incident seems to have occurred in response to attempts by South Korean activists to float balloons across the border transporting anti-Pyongyang literature. The North's military opened fire at the balloons, with South Korean military officials noting that some shots landed south of the border.

Seoul's military responded by firing back.

Pyongyang issued a warning Thursday through its state-run Korean Central News Agency that if campaign leaflets were dropped Friday, they would be met with "uncontrollable catastrophe."

It is unclear whether there were any injuries or casualties as a result of Friday's firefight.

North Korea's Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un, was mysteriously absent from Friday's anniversary celebrations at the Kamsusuan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, increasing speculation that his extended absence from public view is due to serious illness or that he may have been deposed.