N. Korea denies responsibility for DMZ mine blast, warns S. Korea of retaliation

North Korea denied South Korea’s claim that a North Korean mine likely caused a recent blast in the DMZ and warned of immediate and merciless retaliation if its troops are fired upon. Kim Yo-jong accused Seoul of fabricating findings after the South Korean JCS said North Korean land mines were highly likely to have caused the Sept. 21 explosion that injured three soldiers. She said North Korean soldiers had never crossed the border and warned that continued accusations could trigger an unprecedented situation.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that North Korean land mines were highly likely to have caused the Sept. 21 explosion inside the DMZ.

The blast injured three South Korean soldiers, and at least four North Korean mines, including two that exploded, were believed to have been placed at the site.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told lawmakers that the mine found Tuesday was believed to have been planted and likely linked to Pyongyang’s effort to fortify its border.

Kang said North Korea appeared to have planted mines at several locations south of the Military Demarcation Line and called it a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement.

The South Korean military and the U.N. Command carried out an on-site inspection in the DMZ and were expected to announce final findings after additional analyses.

Published Sep 30, 2026 7:52 am KST

Updated Sep 30, 2026 7:59 am KST

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, attends a wreath-laying ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam, March 2, 2019. AP-Yonhap

North Korea on Wednesday denied South Korea's announcement that a North Korean mine likely caused a recent blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), accusing Seoul of fabricating the findings and warning of "immediate and merciless" retaliation if its troops are fired upon.

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued the warning in a statement after the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced Monday that North Korean land mines were "highly likely" to have caused the explosion on Sept. 21 that left three South Korean soldiers injured.

"What should not be overlooked is the fact that the armed gangsters of the ROK are now cooking up the groundless results and 'justifying their conduct' for political and military provocation against the DPRK, openly talking about 'reasonable and corresponding enforcement of measures,'" Kim said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while ROK is the acronym for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Kim claimed the North Korean military began building barriers in the southern border areas two years ago, saying the work is "only a thorough exercise of sovereignty unrelated with any military purposes."

She also stressed that North Korean soldiers "have never crossed the border" while accusing the South Korean military of threatening its soldiers with warning broadcasts and shots.

"If the ROK military gangsters fire at our soldiers carrying on the permanent project for the southern border, not warning shots, our border units will take immediate and merciless retaliate attack," she said.

Kim further warned that any continued "malicious accusation and provocation" in the border region could lead to "a situation that has not yet been experienced."

At least four North Korean mines, including the two that exploded, were believed to have been placed at the DMZ blast site. After an on-site inspection Tuesday, the JCS said it found a North Korean land mine near the explosion site.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told lawmakers Tuesday that the mine discovered Tuesday was believed to have been planted, rather than being a lost or stray mine, and was likely linked to Pyongyang's efforts to fortify its border.

Kang noted that Pyongyang appeared to have planted mines at "several locations" south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), calling it a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War and saying Seoul would take "corresponding measures" in stages.

The South Korean military and the U.N. Command conducted an on-site inspection in the DMZ earlier this week and are expected to announce their final findings after additional analyses.

朝鲜否认了韩国关于朝鲜地雷极有可能引发近期非军事区爆炸的说法，并警告称，如果朝鲜军队遭到炮击，将立即进行无情报复。此前，韩国联合参谋本部表示，朝鲜地雷极有可能引发了9月21日造成三名士兵受伤的爆炸事件。朝鲜最高领导人金与正指责首尔捏造调查结果。她表示，朝鲜士兵从未越过边界，并警告称，持续的指责可能引发前所未有的局面。

韩国联合参谋本部周一表示，朝鲜地雷极有可能是导致9月21日非军事区内爆炸的原因。

爆炸造成三名韩国士兵受伤，据信现场至少埋设了四枚朝鲜地雷，其中两枚已经爆炸。

国防部长康信哲告诉国会议员，周二发现的地雷据信是人为埋设的，很可能与平壤加强边境防御的行动有关。

康表示，朝鲜似乎在军事分界线以南的几个地点埋设了地雷，称这是对停战协定的明显违反。

韩国军方和联合国军司令部在非军事区进行了现场视察，预计将在进一步分析后公布最终调查结果。

发布于2026年9月30日 上午7:52（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月30日 上午7:59（韩国标准时间）

2019年3月2日，朝鲜最高领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正出席在越南河内举行的敬献花圈仪式。（美联社-韩联社）

朝鲜周三否认了韩国关于朝鲜地雷可能是造成非军事区（DMZ）内最近爆炸的原因的声明，指责首尔捏造调查结果，并警告说，如果朝鲜军队遭到炮击，将立即进行“无情”报复。

朝鲜领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正发表声明发出警告。此​​前，韩国联合参谋本部周一宣布，朝鲜地雷“极有可能”是导致9月21日造成三名韩国士兵受伤的爆炸事件的原因。

金正恩在朝中社（KCNA）发布的一份声明中表示：“不应忽视的是，韩国武装匪徒现在正在捏造毫无根据的结果，并‘为其行为辩护’，以进行针对朝鲜民主主义人民共和国的政治和军事挑衅，还公开谈论‘合理和相应的措施’。”

DPRK 是朝鲜民主主义人民共和国的正式名称，而 ROK 是大韩民国的正式名称的缩写。

金正恩声称，朝鲜军方两年前就开始在南部边境地区修建屏障，并表示这项工作“只是彻底行使主权，与任何军事目的无关”。

她还强调朝鲜士兵“从未越过边境”，同时指责韩国军方用警告广播和鸣枪威胁其士兵。

“如果韩国军方暴徒向我们正在进行南部边境永久工程的士兵开火，而不是鸣枪示警，我们的边防部队将立即进行无情的报复性攻击，”她说。

金正恩进一步警告说，边境地区任何持续的“恶意指责和挑衅”都可能导致“前所未有的局面”。

据信，至少有四枚朝鲜地雷被放置在非军事区爆炸地点，其中包括两枚爆炸的地雷。周二，联合参谋本部在现场勘查后表示，在爆炸地点附近发现了一枚朝鲜地雷。

国防部长康信哲周二告诉国会议员，周二发现的地雷据信是人为埋设的，而不是遗失或散落的地雷，很可能与平壤加强边境防御的努力有关。

康指出，平壤似乎在军事分界线（MDL）以南的“几个地点”埋设了地雷，称这明显违反了结束1950-53年朝鲜战争的停战协定，并表示首尔将分阶段采取“相应措施”。

韩国军方和联合国军司令部本周早些时候在非军事区进行了实地考察，预计将在进行进一步分析后公布最终调查结果。