On Wednesday, North Korea responded to South Korea's claim that Pyongyang was responsible for a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and rejected it. The explosion resulted in injuries to three South Korean soldiers.
North Korea's Claim of Deception
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, claimed that Seoul accused Pyongyang of the explosion based on fabricated evidence. She said, "This action is very low and dirty and is unworthy of the South Korean tribes." These remarks were made in a statement released by North Korean state media.
South Korea's Investigations and Reactions
Following the incident, South Korean officials began their investigations. South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul announced on Tuesday that North Korean mines caused the explosion and that his country is prepared to take "appropriate" actions in this regard. He also noted that North Korea likely planted the mines to reinforce the border.
The South Korean Defense Minister added, "Our military has a range of necessary measures at its disposal, and we will implement them gradually." The South Korean military has also called for an apology from North Korea for the explosion.
The United Nations Command also announced that their investigations "identified an active anti-personnel mine from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) on the Republic of Korea's side." This body also concluded that North Korea has violated the ceasefire agreement that ended the 1950-1953 war.
The United Nations Command is a multinational military force led by the United States that oversees the Korean ceasefire agreement and manages the southern side of the demilitarized zone.
