북, UN 안보리에 “지뢰폭발 한국 자작극” 서한 맞불

North Korea dispatched a letter to the United Nations Security Council on Sunday, asserting that a recent landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone was a fabrication orchestrated by South Korea. Pyongyang’s state media reported the dispatch on Monday, describing the incident as a sinister plot designed to hinder North Korea’s ongoing border fortification projects. This diplomatic counterattack follows a similar letter sent by Seoul earlier this week, which accused North Korea of violating the Armistice Agreement by planting the mines that injured three South Korean soldiers. The correspondence was sent by North Korea’s permanent representative to the United Nations to the current president of the Security Council, Greece. According to the Korean Central News Agency, the letter addresses what Pyongyang terms a provocation by the Republic of Korea for groundlessly shifting the blame for the dubious mine explosion incident. The North Korean government characterized the blast as a farce intended to evade responsibility for the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. It argued that the fabricated incident served to label North Korea’s defensive infrastructure upgrades as a military invasion, thereby delaying and impeding these sovereign activities. Seoul’s response to the initial incident occurred on October 22, when South Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations, Cha Ji-hoon, submitted a document to the Greek diplomat holding the rotating presidency of the council. That letter outlined the findings of an investigation into the explosion, concluding that it was caused by a landmine planted by North Korean troops. By doing so, Seoul declared the act a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement that ended the fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. The South Korean delegation urged Pyongyang to accept responsibility, offer an apology, and engage in dialogue to restore trust and prevent further escalation. In reply, the North Korean letter defended its military actions along the Military Demarcation Line. It described the fortification of the southern border as a legitimate and just exercise of sovereignty, stating that such measures strictly conform to the UN Charter and international law. Pyongyang framed these works as self-defensive steps necessary to protect its territorial security from external threats of aggression. The letter further accused the South Korean military of engaging in reckless provocations by firing warning shots at North Korean service personnel working on the project. Pyongyang cited Article 2, Paragraph 4, of the UN Charter in its critique of Seoul. The North Korean text labeled the shooting incidents as a wanton violation of the provision requiring states to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any country. The letter issued a stern warning that if the Republic of Korea invades North Korean territory by even one millimeter, or perpetuates direct provocations that endanger the safety and lives of North Korean personnel, Pyongyang will exercise its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. It concluded by stating that any negative consequences arising from such infringements on its sovereignty and territorial integrity would fall entirely upon South Korea. This diplomatic exchange occurs amidst heightened tensions along the inter-Korean border. Relations deteriorated significantly after South Korea blamed the September 21 explosion on North Korean landmines, an accusation Pyongyang has fiercely rejected. The conflict has deepened following announcements by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korea’s leader, that her country had moved new troop units into firing positions along the border. These developments prompted South Korea to propose military talks aimed at mutually confirming the precise location of the border and restoring communication channels. Despite these proposals, North Korea has shown no visible response to the second invitation for military consultations extended by the South Korean government on October 23. The first such proposal had been made in November of the previous year. The lack of engagement from Pyongyang contrasts with the active diplomatic maneuvering currently taking place within the UN framework. Both nations continue to cite international legal instruments to justify their respective stances, with Seoul emphasizing the breach of the armistice and Pyongyang invoking the right to self-defense and sovereign authority. The physical situation in the Demilitarized Zone reflects this diplomatic standoff. In recent years, North Korean personnel have constructed tactical roads and fences near the Military Demarcation Line. South Korea stated that it fires shots to compel North Korean soldiers to retreat northward when they cross the line. Observers noted that tensions remain high, with both sides monitoring each other’s movements closely. The exchange of letters represents the latest chapter in a series of confrontations that have defined inter-Korean relations recently, leaving the path to de-escalation uncertain as neither side has indicated a willingness to retract its core allegations.