Accra:New York South Korea has officially reached out to the president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding a land mine explosion incident near the inter-Korean border. The incident, which occurred last month, resulted in injuries to three South Korean soldiers and has prompted South Korea to call for North Korea to apologize and accept responsibility.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Cha Ji-hoon sent a detailed letter to his Greek counterpart, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council. The letter outlines the findings of an investigation into the September 21 explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It emphasizes that the explosion was caused by a land mine planted by North Korean troops, which is a violation of the Korean War Armistice Agreement.
The letter further urges Pyongyang to undertake responsible measures and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation and restore trust between the two nations. A South Korean government official indicated that the letter is expected to be circulated among Security Council members following approval by the council president, and it is anticipated to be posted on the UNSC website.
The South Korean military's investigation concluded that the explosions in the DMZ were caused by North Korean mines placed south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Three South Korean soldiers were injured in the blasts, with two sustaining serious injuries.
The submission of the letter occurs amidst rising tensions near the inter-Korean border, with North Korea threatening to resume loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South. Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has warned of a "horrible and distressing situation" amid ongoing border fortification efforts by Pyongyang.
During a recent session of the U.N. General Assembly's First Committee, North Korea accused South Korean troops of conducting 2,870 warning broadcasts and firing warning shots on 201 occasions between August 1 and the previous Saturday.