North Korea sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) accusing South Korea of fabricating the incident of a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone on 21 September, which injured three South Korean soldiers. It warned it might exercise its right to self-defense if South Korea encroaches on its territory or threatens the safety of North Korean personnel amid rising border tensions.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korea's permanent representative to the United Nations sent a letter to the UNSC on Sunday (25 Oct), accusing South Korea of fabricating the landmine explosion incident in the DMZ, the buffer zone between the two Koreas. The letter described this as an attempt to distort facts and obstruct North Korea's efforts to strengthen border defenses.
The incident occurred on 21 September, injuring three South Korean soldiers. South Korea accused North Korea of planting the landmines, calling on Pyongyang to apologize and take responsibility, viewing it as a violation of the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War between 1950-1953.
However, North Korea strongly denied the allegations, stating that strengthening border defenses is a lawful exercise of sovereign rights consistent with the United Nations Charter, and claimed these measures are self-defense against external threats.
The letter also accused South Korean soldiers of firing warning shots at North Korean personnel operating near the border, calling it a violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, which requires states to refrain from the use or threat of force against the territorial integrity of other states. It warned that North Korea would invoke its right to self-defense under Article 51 if South Korea encroaches even slightly or provokes actions endangering the lives and safety of North Korean personnel.
Earlier, South Korea's Ambassador to the United Nations, Cha Ji-hoon, sent a letter to the Security Council chairman last week summarizing an investigation confirming that the explosion was caused by landmines laid by North Korean soldiers. South Korea views this as a violation of the armistice agreement and called on North Korea to take responsibility and open talks to prevent the situation from escalating.
The diplomatic conflict between the two countries arises amid rising tensions along the border. Previously, South Korea proposed military talks to clearly confirm the border line and discuss restoring communication channels between the two sides.
This proposal followed Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, stating that North Korea has deployed new military units to positions along the border and fired shots there. Meanwhile, North Korea also threatened to resume using propaganda loudspeakers along the border, potentially increasing tensions between the two Koreas.