Key facts
- South Korea demanded North Korea immediately stop border fortification activities.
- North Korea's actions are increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
- North Korean mines are highly likely the cause of a Sept. 21 blast in the DMZ.
- Three South Korean soldiers were injured in the mine blast.
- The U.N. Command found an Armistice Agreement violation occurred.
- North Korea denied responsibility and warned of retaliation.
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Reuters) - South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Wednesday that North Korea should stop its fortification work near the inter-Korean border immediately, adding that such activities were increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The statement came after Seoul determined that North Korean resin antipersonnel mines, deliberately planted on the southern side of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), were highly likely the cause of a Sept. 21 mine blast that injured three South Korean soldiers, two of them critically. Lt. Gen. Kang Hyun-woo, chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), stated in a press briefing that this constitutes a blatant violation of the Armistice Agreement and undermines the spirit of existing inter-Korean agreements, demanding an apology and responsible measures from North Korea. He added that North Korea bears full responsibility for any future consequences. The U.N. Command (UNC) also announced it had found an Armistice Agreement violation occurred in the mine explosion and is addressing it through established armistice mechanisms. North Korea, however, denied its involvement through a statement by Kim Yo-jong, accusing Seoul of fabricating findings and warning of retaliation if the South takes corresponding actions.