World

South Korea Eyes Measures to Secure Apology from North Over DMZ Mine Incident

By AFP and Reuters

South Korea is considering steps to compel North Korea to apologize for a landmine blast that injured three soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). A joint South Korean‑United Nations investigation concluded on Monday that two mines that exploded last month were planted by North Korean forces about a year ago, prompting Seoul to demand an official apology. Defence Ministry spokeswoman Chung Bin‑na said Seoul was not ruling out any options or prejudging the situation when asked about potential actions to force an apology. She did not provide details on what measures might be taken. Seoul has also urged North Korea to remove any other mines on the southern side of the military demarcation line (MDL) that runs through the DMZ. North Korea has denied responsibility for the September 21 blast, and Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North’s leader, called the call for an apology “despicable.” Chung said Seoul is inviting Pyongyang to discuss a misalignment of the MDL, noting that differing views of the border line contribute to tension. The comments come after South Korea’s military carried out a mine‑clearing operation south of the MDL and pledged to continue if Pyongyang does not remove remaining explosives. The United Nations Command confirmed the mine placement violated the 1953 agreement. Defence Minister Kang Shin‑chul told reporters that the military’s “decisive” response was unprecedented in history and that all responsibility lies with North Korea. He added that armed forces would respond decisively to any actions threatening national security. The escalation follows Pyongyang’s rejection of diplomatic overtures from Seoul. Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young proposed on October 2 that both sides jointly resurvey the MDL, noting that only about 200 of 1,292 original boundary markers remain intact and that Seoul and the UNC differ on roughly 60 percent of border coordinates. Kim Yo Jong rejected the proposal as a “wild dream,” declaring Pyongyang would define its sovereign boundary “by the use of force, not by means of negotiation.”