North Korea denies planting mines that injured three South Korean soldiers, Seoul demands apology

Pyongyang called the South Korean investigation a conspiratorial farce while Seoul pressed for an apology and UN‑command confirmation of a mine‑laying breach.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:32:29 GMT

North Korea on Wednesday denied that its mines injured three South Korean soldiers in a blast on 21 September, calling the South Korean investigation a "conspiratorial farce" and warning of retaliation if Seoul targets its border workers.

What happened

South Korean troops conducting a search operation south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on 21 September triggered two land‑mine explosions about 10 metres south of the MDL on the western front. The blasts seriously injured a battalion commander – whose foot was reportedly severed at the ankle – and an engineer, while a third officer sustained minor injuries. A joint investigation by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command (UNC) determined that a live North Korean anti‑personnel mine had been placed on the southern side of the MDL, constituting an armistice violation.

What the reports add

According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Kim Yo‑jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected the South Korean findings and warned of “immediate and merciless retaliation” if South Korean forces fire on North Korean border units.
The Guardian reported that Kang Hyun‑woo, director of operations at South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, demanded an apology and “responsible measures” from Pyongyang, and called for an immediate halt to North Korean mine‑laying and fortification, saying any future incidents would be wholly Pyongyang’s responsibility.
The UNC said it was addressing the violation through “established armistice mechanisms,” but did not elaborate on specific actions.

What was said

"Our soldiers have never once crossed the border," Kim Yo‑jong told state media, calling the incident an "obvious self‑staged farce" and warning that if South Korean troops fired directly at North Korean soldiers, border units would carry out "immediate and merciless retaliation".
— Winnipeg Free Press

Kang Hyun‑woo said North Korea must apologise and take "responsible measures" for the blast, adding that any future developments caused by North Korean mines would be "wholly Pyongyang’s responsibility" and that the mine‑laying violated the armistice and the spirit of inter‑Korean agreements.
— The Guardian

How it came about

The incident follows earlier unexplained explosions in the DMZ on 21 September that injured three officers, reported by Felo News in its DMZ explosion coverage, where the cause was initially unclear. Subsequent joint inspections by South Korean forces and the UNC uncovered a second mine on 29 September, prompting diplomatic protests and linking the event to North Korea’s recent expansion of border fortifications, a theme explored in Felo’s earlier piece on DMZ mine denial (North Korea denies planting DMZ mines).

Key facts

Three South Korean soldiers were injured by a land‑mine explosion on 21 September during a search operation south of the MDL. (theguardian.com)
The UNC said the mine was a live North Korean anti‑personnel device placed on the southern side of the MDL, constituting an armistice violation. (theguardian.com)
Kim Yo‑jong denied North Korea planted the mines and called the South Korean report a conspiratorial farce. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Kang Hyun‑woo demanded an apology and "responsible measures" from Pyongyang and called for a halt to mine‑laying. (theguardian.com)

Timeline

2026-09-21 — Explosion injures three South Korean officers in the DMZ; cause initially unclear.
2026-09-30 — UNC and South Korean joint investigation identifies North Korean mine as cause.
2026-09-30 — North Korean sister Kim Yo‑jong denies responsibility and threatens retaliation.