North Korea accuses Seoul of faking landmine incident in UN letter

North Korea sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council on Sunday, accusing South Korea of fabricating a landmine explosion. The message, reported by the Korean Central News Agency, was written by Pyongyang's permanent representative to the UN. It describes the incident as a deliberate move to shift blame for what the envoy called a dubious mine explosion. The letter warns that further violations of North Korean sovereignty could trigger self-defence actions.

The original blast occurred on September 21 inside the Demilitarized Zone. Three South Korean soldiers were wounded in the explosion. Seoul attributes the damage to North Korean landmines, while Pyongyang has rejected that explanation. Tensions between the two nations have increased since the incident. The North Korean envoy described the event as a sinister attempt to brand Pyongyang's activities as a military invasion. The letter further called South Korea's claims a farce designed to evade responsibility for escalating tensions.

The letter defends North Korea's ongoing efforts to fortify the border. The envoy describes this work as a legitimate exercise of sovereignty in strict conformity with the UN Charter. The message also criticizes South Korea for violating the charter by firing warning shots at soldiers in the DMZ. Seoul states it fires these shots to force North Korean personnel back north when they cross the Military Demarcation Line. In recent years, North Korean workers have built tactical roads and fences near that line.

South Korea has also appealed to the Security Council. Last week, the South Korean Foreign Ministry wrote to the council's president. It placed the blame for the blast on the North, labeling it a clear violation of the armistice agreement. The US-led UN Command separately stated that North Korea's placement of mines breached the Armistice Agreement. That agreement was signed in 1953 to end hostilities in the Korean War.

Days before the North Korean letter arrived, South Korea's Defence Ministry proposed military talks with Pyongyang. The ministry said the aim of these talks would be to mutually confirm the precise location of the border. This step is intended to reduce the risk of accidental clashes between the two militaries.