North sneers at land mine accusations

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North sneers at land mine accusations

North Korea denied Friday that it planted land mines on the South Korean side of the inter-Korean border that maimed two Korean soldiers.

The North’s National Defense Commission, the highest decision-making body of the country’s military, which is chaired by leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement Friday that denied South Korea’s claim about the planting of the land mines and the explosions on Aug. 4.

“It is absurd for the South to claim that we had placed three land mines in front of the enemy’s guard post located 400 meters [437 yards] south of the military demarcation line,” the North said. “If our military wanted a provocation for a military purpose, we would have used our mighty firepower instead of fiddling with three land mines.”

The North said the South must present clear proof of its claim, stressing that there are countless mines inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) including those from the Soviet Union, China and the United States.

Three land mines exploded on Aug. 4 in the western DMZ near Paju, Gyeonggi, triggered by the movements of South Korean soldiers. One soldier lost both of his legs and another lost a foot. After a joint investigation with the United Nations Command, the South announced Monday that the North was behind the attack.

By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]
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