North Korea has warned South Korea it will “pay a price” for blaming Pyongyang for a mine blast at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured South Korean personnel, while threatening immediate retaliation if the South opens fire on its troops.
The warning came from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, after South Korea’s Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul said on Tuesday that North Korean mines were responsible for the blast and that Seoul would take “corresponding” action.
Kang also said North Korea was believed to have planted mines as part of efforts to strengthen its border fortifications.
The September 21 blast injured three South Korean personnel who were taking part in a reconnaissance mission inside the 4-kilometre-wide DMZ. South Korea and the United Nations Command, which oversees the Korean War armistice, are investigating the incident.
Kim accused Seoul of attempting to fabricate evidence to support its claim that North Korea was responsible.
She said North Korean troops had never crossed the Military Demarcation Line running through the centre of the DMZ, while warning that those responsible for what she described as a provocation would face consequences.
North Korea has acknowledged carrying out construction work to strengthen its border, including building barriers and restoring guard posts. Kim described the activities as an exercise of sovereignty rather than preparations for military action.
She also accused South Korea of escalating tensions by firing warning shots when North Korean troops were allegedly conducting border fortification work.
“If live shots are fired at our soldiers, the North will take immediate retaliation,” Kim warned, adding that South Korea should be prepared for a larger response if even one bullet struck North Korean territory.
The latest confrontation comes as North Korea increasingly describes South Korea as a separate country and “foe”, marking a shift away from its previous policy of pursuing eventual reunification.
The mine blast could further complicate South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang and reduce military tensions along the heavily fortified border.
