1 hr ago
South Korea Blames North Korea for Border Mine Blast
Two South Korean soldiers were badly hurt when a mine exploded near the border.
South Korea says North Korea planted the mine.
The blast happened on September 21 in the Demilitarized Zone.
South Korea says the mine may have been there for about a year.
The United Nations Command and South Korean military investigated the incident together.
South Korea wants North Korea to apologize and remove mines.
South Korean troops have started removing mines themselves.
North Korea's Kim Yo Jong denied the accusation and said it was groundless.
The two countries are still technically at war because their 1950–53 war ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
South Korea said a mine blast that severely wounded two soldiers was caused by a North Korean anti-personnel mine.
The blast occurred on September 21 in the Demilitarized Zone, south of the Military Demarcation Line.
South Korea said the mine was believed to have been planted about a year earlier.
Seoul urged North Korea to apologize and remove mines; its army began removing mines on Monday.
North Korea's Kim Yo Jong called the accusation groundless and rejected Seoul's demand for an apology.
- Who
- Two South Korean soldiers were wounded; South Korea blamed North Korea for the mine.
- What
- A mine blast severely wounded the soldiers, and South Korea said the mine was planted by North Korea.
- Where
- In the Demilitarized Zone, south of the Military Demarcation Line.
- When
- The blast occurred on September 21; South Korea announced its finding on Monday, October 5.
- Why
- South Korea said the mine was installed during North Korea's border fortification work.
South Korea and United Nations Command
North Korea
Responsibility for the blast
South Korea and United Nations Command
South Korea said joint investigations and scientific evidence showed the mine was installed by North Korea south of the Military Demarcation Line.
North Korea
Kim Yo Jong called South Korea's accusation groundless.
Apology and mine removal
South Korea and United Nations Command
South Korea urged North Korea to apologize and immediately remove mines it said were installed in violation of the Armistice agreement.
North Korea
Kim Yo Jong dismissed Seoul's demand for an apology.
Key facts
- Incident date
- September 21
- Injured
- Two South Korean soldiers, severely wounded
- Mine type
- Anti-personnel mine
- Suspected planting time
- About a year before the blast, according to South Korea
- Investigation
- Joint investigation by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command
- South Korea's response
- Its army began operations to remove North Korean mines on Monday
- North Korea's response
- Kim Yo Jong called South Korea's accusation groundless and rejected its demand for an apology
Quotes
Kwon Dae-won
Vice Chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff
“Based on the findings of joint investigations with the United Nations Command and scientific evidence, it is officially determined that our soldiers conducting regular operations in the Demilitarized Zone were wounded severely by an anti-personnel mine installed south of the Military Demarcation Line by North Korea under its so-called fortification work.”
theprint.in
“Our military strongly urges North Korea to apologise sincerely to our soldiers injured by the mine blast and immediately remove mines installed in violation of the Armistice agreement”
theprint.in
Sources
Related news
South Korea Blames North Korean Mines for DMZ Blast
South Korea Says North Korean Mines Likely Caused DMZ Blasts
South Korea Seeks North Korea Dialogue While Expanding Defenses
North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Toward Sea, Neighbors Say
Kim Oversees North Korean Hypersonic Missile Drill, Defends Deterrent
North Korea Says AI Missile Can Evade Tracking
