Pyongyang accuses Seoul of staging DMZ mine blast in UN letter

North Korea told the United Nations Security Council that South Korea made up the landmine explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers last month. The accusation appears in a letter sent by Pyongyang’s permanent representative to the UN on Sunday. The document describes the incident as a provocation committed by the Republic of Korea.

The letter argues that Seoul shifted blame for a dubious mine explosion without grounding it in fact. It warns that violations of North Korean sovereignty could lead to self-defence measures. The dispute centers on an explosion that occurred on September 21 inside the Demilitarized Zone.

South Korea initially blamed the blast on North Korean landmines. Pyongyang has consistently rejected that explanation. The North Korean representative called the incident a sinister move meant to brand South Korea as a military invader. The letter further described Seoul’s claims as a farce intended to avoid responsibility for rising tensions on the peninsula.

The letter defends North Korea’s recent border fortification efforts. It states that building tactical roads and fences near the Military Demarcation Line is a legitimate exercise of sovereignty under the UN Charter. The document also criticizes South Korea for firing warning shots at soldiers in the DMZ, which Pyongyang views as a violation of the same charter.

South Korea explained that it fires shots to prompt North Korean soldiers to return to their side of the border when they cross the line. Last week, the South Korean Foreign Ministry sent its own letter to the UN Security Council president. That letter called the landmine blast a clear violation of the 1953 armistice agreement that ended hostilities in the Korean War.

The United States-led UN Command agreed with Seoul’s assessment. It stated that mine placement by North Korea violated the armistice agreement. Before sending its letter to the UN, South Korea’s Defence Ministry proposed military talks to Pyongyang. The goal of those talks is to mutually confirm the precise location of the border to reduce the risk of accidental clashes.