N. Korea rejects U.N. chief's call for inter-Korean dialogue after mine blast

On Tuesday, North Korea firmly rejected U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' recent plea to restart inter-Korean dialogue aimed at reducing tensions following a mine explosion near the border in September. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, dismissed Guterres' call as biased and reckless.

This rejection was published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Last week, the U.N. chief had advocated for the restoration of communication channels between South and North Korea due to growing concerns over a possible escalation of tensions following the September 21 land mine blast inside the Demilitarized Zone. The incident, attributed to mines allegedly laid by North Korea, injured three South Korean soldiers, with two suffering serious injuries.

Kim expressed her sorrow over the U.N. Secretary-General's attitude, accusing him of a prejudiced and irresponsible stance that mirrored the Republic of Korea's (ROK) unilateral and provocative reasoning. Kim asserted that North Korea's reinforcement of its southern border does not contravene the U.N. Charter or international laws, as it maintains.