S. Korea to North: We Want 'Sincere Apology' for Hurt Soldiers

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   South Korea Demands North Korea Apology for Demilitarized Zone Blast

   South Korea is demanding a sincere apology from North Korea after concluding that Pyongyang planted landmines inside the Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers last month. Seoul's military urges the North to apologize and remove remaining explosives, while the defense ministry considers further measures to compel compliance. In response, North Korea warns of a powerful counteraction if the South intrudes even a millimeter into its territory.

   Why it matters

   The incident ratchets up tensions along the heavily fortified border between the two nations, reviving historical distrust in the demilitarized buffer zone. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff state that the implicated landmines were installed more than 12 months ago south of the Military Demarcation Line. Meanwhile, separate diplomatic frictions persist between Seoul and Kyiv regarding the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war.

   What is confirmed

   • South Korea's military concluded that North Korea planted landmines that injured three South Korean soldiers at the border last month.
   • Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the North Korean mines found south of the Military Demarcation Line were installed over 12 months ago.
   • North Korea warned of a powerful counteraction if South Korea intrudes even a millimeter into its territory.
   • South Korea is considering measures to force an apology and the removal of other mines from North Korea.

   Still unconfirmed

   • President Lee Jae Myung skipped addressing North Korea's Demilitarized Zone landmine responsibility.

   What to watch next

   • Specific countermeasures adopted by South Korea's defense ministry to compel an apology
   • Any physical or military escalation along the Military Demarcation Line following North Korea's counteraction warnings
   Sources used for this update (31)

   1. www.wionews.com — South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over North Korean ...
   2. newser.com — S. Korea to North: We Want 'Sincere Apology' for Hurt Soldiers
   3. NBC News — South Korea blames North Korean mines for border blast injuries and demands apology
   4. Reuters — North Korea warns of stronger action toward South Korea over mine blast accusations
   5. Al Jazeera — South Korea considers steps to force North Korea apology for DMZ mine blast
   6. The Korea Times — Seoul concludes North Korea responsible for DMZ land mine explosions
   7. 조선일보 — President Lee Jae Myung Skips Addressing North Korea's DMZ Landmine Responsibility
   8. Social News XYZ — North Korea warns of 'powerful counteraction' if South intrudes 'even a millimetre' into its territory
   9. Yahoo — North Korea Threatens 'Powerful Counteraction' After South Korea Blames It For Mine Blast
   10. The Korea Herald — N. Korean mines found south of MDL were installed over 12 months ago: JCS
   11. The Korea Times — N. Korea warns of 'powerful counteraction' if S. Korea intrudes 'even a millimeter' into its territory
   12. Bloomberg.com — North Korea Warns South Not to Cross Border by Even ‘Millimeter’
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