South Korea says preparing response to force North Korean apology over DMZ blast

Seoul is preparing a response aimed at compelling North Korea to apologize following a mine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that severely injured two South Korean soldiers on September 21. A spokesperson for South Korea's defense ministry disclosed these plans on Tuesday. In addition to seeking an apology, South Korea is urging Pyongyang to engage in discussions regarding the misalignment of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), which separates the two countries within the DMZ.

On September 21, the blast injured three South Korean troops, with two of them suffering serious injuries. The spokesperson, Chung Bin-na, declined to specify the nature of the response, citing the outcomes of a joint investigation conducted with the United Nations Command. North Korea has denounced the cyber threat warning issued by the United States and its allies.

Chung Bin-na stated that North Korea must remove the mines it placed in the DMZ south of the MDL. However, she also noted that there are disagreements over the precise border line that divides the Korean Peninsula, as recognized by both Koreas. The differing views on the border line are contributing to tensions in the region, she explained.

Approximately 200 kilometers (124.27 miles) stretch the MDL, which runs along both coasts of the Korean Peninsula, with 1,900 markers. After decades of restricted access within the DMZ since its establishment in 1953 at the conclusion of the Korean War, some sections of the MDL have become challenging to distinguish. On Friday, North Korea rejected South Korea's allegation that its mines severely wounded the soldiers and dismissed Seoul's demand for an apology, according to state news agency KCNA.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, asserted in KCNA that Pyongyang did not intentionally plant mines in the border zone.