North Korea denies South's claim, calls DMZ blast a 'farce'

North Korea rejected South Korea's assertion that it was responsible for a mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), describing it as a "farce." Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, claimed Seoul had concocted false evidence in blaming Pyongyang for a previous explosion. The North's statement, issued by state media KCNA, called the incident "too low and dirty as befitting the tribes of South Korea."

Following the blast, South Korean authorities initiated an investigation. South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul asserted on Tuesday that North Korean mines triggered the explosion and pledged corresponding action, suggesting the mines were likely placed to bolster the border. The South Korean military also demanded an apology from North Korea for the incident.

North Korea has asked for an immediate cessation of activities that exacerbate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and urged Seoul to issue an apology and take responsible measures. UN Command investigators confirmed the presence of a North Korean anti-personnel mine on the South Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line during a follow-up inspection.

The UN Command, a US-led force overseeing the Korean armistice agreement and administering the southern side of the DMZ, concluded that North Korea violated the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.