Kim Jong Un's sister denies South Korea mine blast claims, issues warning

In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong dismissed the South Korean military's findings as a "farce" and accused Seoul of fabricating "groundless results" to justify political and military provocation against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), following a joint inspection with the United Nations Command (UNC) on Monday, had stated that North Korean land mines were "highly likely" the cause of the explosion. The JCS had also vowed to take "corresponding" measures if the blast was confirmed to be Pyongyang's doing.

Kim Yo Jong further warned that if South Korean troops fired on North Korean soldiers engaged in what she described as a "permanent project for the southern border," then border units would carry out an "immediate and merciless retaliatory attack."

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul had previously told lawmakers that the blast was "clearly a violation of the Armistice Agreement," placing responsibility on North Korea and indicating Seoul would take "corresponding measures."