Seoul:Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that South Korea is examining diplomatic measures following recent mine explosions inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to prevent unnecessary escalation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho made these remarks during a parliamentary audit of his ministry, a day after the Joint Chiefs of Staff concluded that North Korean land mines caused injuries to three South Korean soldiers inside the DMZ on September 21.

The explosions occurred while South Korean troops were clearing a path for a joint inspection with the U.N. Command to verify suspicions that North Korea had illegally planted land mines south of the border, violating the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Cho indicated that the review of diplomatic responses includes consulting past incidents, such as a similar event in 2015, which involved North Korean land mines injuring two soldiers.

The South Korean government, in a previous incident, sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council president through its U.N. ambassador, expressing regret over North Korea's actions. Cho mentioned possible responses, including a presidential statement or a Security Council resolution, as well as considering the effectiveness of sending a letter or opting out of a Security Council response.

Cho also noted that South Korea is evaluating independent sanctions against North Korea concerning its cyberactivities, based on a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. This report highlighted North Korea's use of cyber operations to evade U.N. sanctions.

Additionally, Cho expressed agreement on the necessity to clarify the Military Demarcation Line and mentioned preparations in cooperation with the U.N. Command to engage North Korea on this issue. He dismissed claims that the government's response was delayed out of concern over provoking North Korea, emphasizing the importance of firm demands and situation management.

Meanwhile, North Korea has denied any responsibility for the explosions and has warned of retaliation if South Korea takes action.