Fighting is occurring less than two weeks after the KIO and government chief negotiators agreed to a 7 point agreement during peace talks in Kachin state capital of Myitkyina.  The agreement called for a reduction in military tensions and to form a joint troop movement monitoring mechanism. Despite being vaguely written, it has been hailed as a "breakthrough" by the International Crisis Group (ICG), a Brussels based think tank that awarded President Thein Sein a "peace prize" early in the year.

The Friday clashes happened after aggressive maneuvers by an unknown Burma army outfit near Mongkoe, an area that is controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) brigade 4, battalion 38, the KIO officer said.

Fighting also took place further west in Shan state earlier this week. Last Monday clashes broke out between Section 5 of the KIO's local civilian militia force known as the Mungshawa Hpyen Hpung (MHH) and Infantry Battalion 125 government troops near Hpai Kawng village in Pangsai (Kyukok) region. The government was also supported by the Kutkai based militia that is headed by Hkun Myat, a member of parliament from the ruling USDP.  Khun Myant and his militia are alleged to be heavily involved in Shan state's booming drug trade. The bodies of two Burmese soldiers were found after the fighting ended, according to one KIO official who took part in the battle.

Other clashes involving the same KIO unit took place on Saturday and Sunday evening near Hka Lum village in the same region.