Key facts
- Three South Korean soldiers were injured by landmines on September 21.
- An investigation by South Korea and the UN Command found North Korean anti-personnel mines south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
- South Korea considers the mine-laying a violation of the armistice agreement.
- North Korea has denied responsibility for the incident.
- Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, called the incident a "self-staged farce."
Tensions have escalated across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea after three South Korean soldiers were injured by landmines on September 21. South Korea's military, in conjunction with the US-led UN Command, conducted an investigation and concluded that North Korean anti-personnel mines were found on the southern side of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), a de facto border. This action is considered a violation of the 1953 armistice agreement that ended the Korean War.
Kang Hyun-woo, director of operations at South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, demanded an apology and "responsible measures" from Pyongyang, urging an immediate halt to North Korea's mine-laying and border fortification activities. He stated that North Korea would bear full responsibility for any future developments. The incident occurred about 10 meters south of the MDL during a patrol clearing a new route, with two mines detonating a minute apart, seriously injuring a battalion commander and an engineer, while a third officer sustained minor injuries.
North Korea has denied any involvement. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong-un, dismissed the incident as an "obvious self-staged farce" and warned of retaliation if South Korean troops fired on North Korean soldiers. Analysts suggest North Korea may be politically motivated to test South Korea's resolve and potentially push the MDL further south, as it has officially revised its constitution to define its absolute geographical limits. This incident adds to diplomatic difficulties for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who has been pursuing a peace agenda with Pyongyang.