South Korea considers steps to force North Korea apology for DMZ mine blast | News
Seoul Calls for North Korea to Remove Mines, Seeks Apology for Blast
Published October 6, 2026
South Korea is considering options to compel North Korea to issue an apology following a landmine explosion that injured three soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). A spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry confirmed this development on Tuesday.
A joint investigation by South Korean and United Nations officials concluded that two landmines, which detonated in the DMZ last month, were planted by North Korean forces approximately a year ago. In light of these findings, South Korea is demanding an official apology from Pyongyang.
“We are not ruling out any options or prejudging anything regarding additional measures,” said Defense Ministry spokeswoman Chung Bin-na during a press briefing. She refrained from discussing specific actions that could be taken.
Seoul has also urged North Korea to eliminate any other landmines positioned on the southern side of the military demarcation line (MDL), a boundary that has separated the peninsula since the signing of the 1953 Armistice Agreement.
The North has denied responsibility for the September 21 explosion, with Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denouncing the call for an apology as “despicable.”
Chung emphasized that Seoul is seeking dialogue with Pyongyang to address discrepancies regarding the MDL. These differing assessments of the border are contributing to ongoing tensions in the region.
This statement follows a mine-clearing operation conducted by South Korean forces near the MDL, with the military indicating it will persist with clearance efforts if North Korea does not remove the remaining explosives. The United Nations Command confirmed that the landmine placement violated the 1953 agreement.
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul characterized the military’s response as “decisive” and unprecedented, asserting that all responsibility for the incident rests with North Korea. He also underscored the military’s commitment to respond robustly to any threats to national security.
These developments come as Pyongyang has dismissed diplomatic efforts from South Korea. On October 2, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young suggested a joint resurvey of the MDL, noting that only about 200 of 1,292 original boundary markers remain intact and that there are substantial discrepancies in border coordinates between Seoul and the United Nations Command.
Kim Yo Jong rejected the proposal, labeling it a “wild dream” and stating that North Korea intends to define its territorial boundaries “by the use of force, not by means of negotiation.”
