Landmine Shock: South Korea Demands Apology After DMZ Blasts

Wed Sep 30 2026 14:01:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Three South Korean soldiers were hurt by landmine blasts along the DMZ, sparking a tense call for a North Korean apology.

On September 21, South Korean troops suffered injuries from landmine explosions near the Vietnam border, a move South Korea blames on Pyongyang. The incident has reignited tensions, prompting military officials to demand an apology and a halt to border fortifications. North Korea rejects the blame, calling the accusations "groundless". Experts warn the dead‑zone still risks accidental escalation, with UN forces ready to mediate. As the two Koreas already trade fire in the DMZ, this latest flare warns of further friction on the peninsula.

A blast on the South Korean side of the Democratic‑Moralised Zone (DMZ) on September 21 injured three South Korean soldiers. The military says the sparks came from hidden landmines, likely laid by North Korea.

This has triggered a heated call for an apology from Pyongyang. Seoul’s defence chief called the explosion a blatant breach of the 1953 armistice, demanding North Korea stop fortifying the border.

North Korea says the claims are a “farce” and that the South is provoking trouble. Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong Un, accused Seoul of “political provocation.”

The DMZ is a 4km wide strip that has seen sporadic clashes since 1953. Experts warn that the latest incident raises the risk of accidental escalation, especially as the UN Command will now run official investigations.