North Korea on Friday denied its involvement in the landmine explosion on the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone, demanding Seoul provide solid proof.
North Korea’s National Defense Commission said in a statement that it “does not make sense” for it to bury the landmines that injured two South Korean staff sergeants on Aug. 4.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff immediately refuted the statement, adding that the North will suffer the consequences of their actions.
Three wooden-box landmines, supposedly buried by North Korea, exploded on the South Korean side of the DMZ as the soldiers stepped on them during a routine patrol.
The statement came 10 days after the accident and four days after South Korea designated Pyongyang responsible.
“If our army really needs to achieve a military purpose, we would have used strong firearms, and not three units of mines,” the Korean statement said.
“(Seoul) should bring forth a video that can prove (Pyongyang was behind the explosion),” it continued. “If they have none, they shall not speak of the North-led provocations.”
“Only disgrace of fabrication shall grow for Park Geun-hye and her groups as South Korea speaks more of these groundless North-led provocations,” it added.
After the mine blast, the South Korean military immediately launched a propaganda broadcasting campaign at the border, blasting out anti-Pyongyang messages and outside news to be heard by North Korean soldiers and border residents.
North Korea also expressed discontent against the move through the latest statement, adding South Korea is blaming Pyongyang to justify such actions. (Yonhap)
