Seoul blames North Korea for DMZ mines in armistice breach

South Korea's Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul has formally blamed North Korea for mines placed near the demilitarised zone, characterising the action as a violation of the 1953 Korean armistice agreement that has governed the heavily militarised border for decades.

The accusation follows an explosion along the DMZ, which Seoul says resulted from mines laid by North Korean forces. The incident marks a fresh point of tension on the peninsula, where military incidents near the border carry significant diplomatic weight.

Mr Kang has called for a joint investigation, proposing that both North and South Korea work together to "verify the facts" surrounding the blast. Such collaborative efforts remain uncommon given the fraught relationship between the two nations, which technically remain at war following the 1950-1953 conflict.

The mine placement, if confirmed, would represent a breach of armistice protocols that have broadly held despite periodic skirmishes and provocations. North Korea has not publicly responded to the South's accusations.

The incident underscores the precarious military balance on the peninsula, where unauthorised weapons deployments or violations of established protocols can rapidly escalate tensions between the neighbouring states.