Amid escalating inter-Korean tensions and North Korea's warning that it would strengthen firepower near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), North Korean soldiers are seen observing the South from a self-propelled artillery position along the coast of Kaepung County, Hwanghae Province, North Korea, as viewed from Aegibong Observatory in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 26. / Yonhap

North Korea has sent a letter to the president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), claiming that a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was staged by South Korea. The move appears to be a response to an earlier letter from the South Korean government accusing Pyongyang of violating the Korean War Armistice Agreement.

On Oct. 26, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that "the permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) to the United Nations sent a letter to the president of the Security Council the previous day." Explaining the purpose of the letter, KCNA accused South Korea of engaging in a provocation by groundlessly blaming North Korea for the mysterious "landmine explosion incident" that occurred near its southern border on Sept. 21.

KCNA said the letter exposed what it described as a "sinister attempt" by South Korea to portray North Korea's fortification of its southern border as a "military incursion," delay and obstruct the construction work, and evade responsibility for worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula through a fabricated incident. It also maintained that the fortification work was a self-defensive measure to protect North Korean territory from external threats of aggression and a legitimate and justified exercise of sovereignty fully consistent with international law.

"Nevertheless, South Korea has not hesitated to engage in reckless provocations, including firing shots that threaten the safety and lives of our soldiers. This constitutes a serious violation of Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter," KCNA said. It added that North Korea had the legal right to exercise self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter if South Korea "infringes upon our territory by even one millimeter or carries out a direct provocation that endangers the safety and lives of our personnel."

North Korea further warned that "if South Korea violates North Korea's sovereignty and territorial integrity despite our warning, South Korea will bear full responsibility for all the consequences arising from its actions."

The letter appears to be a response to one sent by South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Cha Ji-hoon to the UNSC president on Oct. 22, condemning North Korea's violation of the Armistice Agreement. At the time, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said, "We will explain that the landmine explosion was caused by a mine planted by North Korean troops, constituting a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement, and demand an apology and responsible measures from North Korea."

Unification Ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho said, "North Korea's letter appears to be a response to the letter our government recently sent to the president of the Security Council. In terms of its content, North Korea appears to be repeating its previous position on the explosion and attempting to justify its so-called border fortification work."

Regarding additional measures, including independent sanctions targeting North Korea's cyber activities, Yoon added, "Relevant ministries are discussing further measures, and decisions will be made accordingly."

Yoon also addressed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent one-day visit to China. "We are closely monitoring the potential impact of Chairman Kim's visit to Dandong, China, on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and analyzing its timing, format and substance," he said. "We hope the visit will contribute constructively to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of dialogue among neighboring countries."

                                                                                                               Lee Han-sol