North Korea Accuses Seoul of Fabricating Landmine Blast in Letter to UN

Pyongyang has formally accused Seoul of fabricating a landmine explosion that resulted in injuries to three South Korean soldiers, according to North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency. The North Korean permanent representative to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) penned a letter to the UNSC on Sunday, denouncing the “provocation the ROK [Republic of Korea] committed by groundlessly shifting the blame for the dubious ‘mine explosion incident’.” The representative warned that any violations of North Korea’s sovereignty could lead to self-defense measures.

Tensions have escalated following South Korea’s assertion that a September 21 explosion within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates the two nations, was caused by North Korean landmines. North Korea has vehemently denied these accusations. Pyongyang’s UN representative alleged that the landmine incident was “a sinister obstructive move to brand as a ‘military invasion’” and characterized South Korea’s claims as a “farce to evade the responsibility for the ever-escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula”.

The letter further stated that North Korea’s ongoing border fortification efforts are “a legitimate and just exercise of its sovereignty going in strict conformity with the UN Charter”. It also criticized South Korea for allegedly violating the UN Charter by firing warning shots at North Korean soldiers in the DMZ. South Korea maintains that such shots are fired to ensure North Korean soldiers return to their side when they cross the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that traverses the DMZ. In recent years, North Korean personnel have been observed constructing tactical roads and fences in close proximity to the MDL.

Last week, the South Korean Foreign Ministry dispatched its own letter to the president of the UNSC, placing blame on North Korea for the landmine blast and deeming it a “clear violation of the armistice agreement”. The United States-led UN Command has also stated that mine placement by North Korea contravenes the Armistice Agreement, which was signed in 1953 to end hostilities in the Korean War.

Just days prior to North Korea’s communication to the UN, South Korea’s Defence Ministry had proposed military talks with Pyongyang. The objective of these talks was to “mutually confirm the precise location” of their border, aiming to mitigate the risk of accidental clashes.