Asia

DMZ Mine Blast is Seoul Fabrication, Says North Korea

Did North Korea plant mines to maim South Korean soldiers or lawfully fortify its own border against a hostile neighbor?

4 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

DMZ Mine Blast is Seoul Fabrication, Says North Korea

Story

Above: The Demilitarised Zone dividing North and South Korea on Oct. 20. Image credit: Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

North Korea's permanent representative to the United Nations sent a letter to the Security Council president on Sunday calling an alleged mine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in September a South Korean fabrication, KCNA reported on Monday.
KCNA
The Korea Herald
Al Jazeera
South Korea previously reported that a land mine explosion occurred on Sept. 21, wounding three soldiers, two seriously, in an incident the country attributed to North Korea, claiming forensic research detected TNT and brown residue but no metal shrapnel, pointing to a North Korean device.
Korea.kr
Korea.kr
The letter, however, described the explosion as a "sinister" ploy to obstruct the fortification of the North's southern border, which it called a "legitimate and just exercise of its sovereignty" under the U.N. Charter and international law.
KCNA
In addition, it accused South Korea of violating Article 2 (4) of the U.N. Charter through "extremely reckless provocations," before warning that Pyongyang would invoke self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter if Seoul invaded its territory "even a millimeter."
KCNA
Responding to the letter, South Korea's Unification Ministry said it merely reiterated Pyongyang's existing position and sought to justify its border fortifications, which Seoul has claimed are increasing tensions on the peninsula.
Ministry of Unification
Yonhap News Agency
The news follows South Korea's letter to the Security Council president last week, blaming North Korea for the incident, calling it a clear violation of the armistice and demanding an apology from Pyongyang, which it called on to take responsibility.
Ministry of Unification
The Korea Times
Anadolu Agency

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The Spin

Anti-North Korea narrative

North Korea's hostility knows no bounds. Unsatisfied with merely launching ballistic missile tests and issuing endless threats, it now plants mines on the southern side of the demarcation line to wound South Korean soldiers. The evidence leaves no doubt about who is responsible, and it's time North Korea took accountability.

Korea.kr

Anti-North Korea narrative

North Korea is entirely within its sovereign rights under the U.N. Charter and international law to fortify its southern border against a belligerent neighbor. The so-called landmine explosion is just a ruse to undermine this effort. Seoul should be warned, however, that any attempt to infringe on the North's territory will be met with full force.

KCNA