Explosion in the zone – South Korea claims violation

 

TT-AFP

 

Published

 

Tourists look through binoculars at an observation point near the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea. File photo. Photo: Jae C. Hong/AP/TT

A landmine exploded in the demilitarized zone on the Korean Peninsula last week. South Korea has identified the mine as North Korean and declared that its rival has violated the long-standing armistice.

Three South Korean soldiers were injured in the explosion last Monday. A week later, South Korea has accused North Korea of ​​recently planting landmines just meters from the so-called demarcation line within the demilitarized zone separating the two countries.

"This constitutes a clear violation of the armistice agreement, and since North Korea bears responsibility, we will take measures commensurate with that," said South Korean Defense Ministry official Kang Shin-Chul during a parliamentary hearing.

Technically, the two countries remain at war, as the fighting in the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953.