[Guest essay] Seoul can’t afford to ignore the restoration of China-North Korea economic ties

North Korea has expressed regret over remarks made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, accusing him of taking sides with South Korea in the current border tensions. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea's leader, stated that Guterres had adopted an "irresponsible" and "biased" stance by echoing South Korea's claims over the September landmine incident.

In a statement released by the KCNA news agency, Kim claimed that Guterres' actions were unproductive for calming tensions and fostering detente between the two nations.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that Guterres had encouraged both Koreas to re-engage in dialogue, including discussions at the military level, to prevent any unintended accidents. The recent landmine explosion along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) resulted in several South Korean soldiers being wounded during a reconnaissance mission in September.

South Korea has attributed the blast to North Korean mines, while North Korea denies responsibility and asserts that its troops were fortifying the border in the DMZ without violating international laws or the UN Charter.