South Korea's Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul confirmed on Monday that North Korean mines caused a blast in the Demilitarised Zone that injured two South Korean personnel, stating the incident violated the Korean War armistice agreement.
The blast occurred last week in the DMZ, the buffer zone separating North and South Korea. The two injured personnel were South Korean military members. Following the incident, investigations conducted with the UN Command identified additional mines positioned south of the Military Demarcation Line.
In response to the findings, South Korea conducted a staged military response. Defence Minister Kang said his country would seek to engage North Korea directly over the blast, with Seoul planning to urge Pyongyang for dialogue to verify the facts surrounding the incident.
The explosion comes amid broader diplomatic efforts by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to resume talks with North Korea. Officials said Seoul is expected to continue its peace policy and diplomatic engagement despite the tensions created by the mine incident.
The armistice agreement, signed in 1953, established the framework for the ceasefire that has governed the Korean peninsula since the end of active combat in the Korean War. South Korea's characterisation of the blast as a violation of this agreement underscores the sensitivity surrounding military incidents in the DMZ, where both sides maintain heavily fortified positions.
The discovery of additional mines south of the Military Demarcation Line raised questions about the placement and timing of the ordnance. South Korea's decision to pursue direct dialogue with North Korea reflects an attempt to clarify the circumstances of the incident while maintaining channels of communication between the two countries.