South Korea may take North Korean mine attack to UN

South Korea is considering asking the United Nations to act against North Korea after a land mine planted south of the Military Demarcation Line in the Demilitarized Zone exploded on Sept. 21, seriously injuring South Korean soldiers. The U.N. Command determined that the mine placement violated the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Seoul is reviewing unilateral sanctions and several possible U.N. responses while seeking to prevent an escalation of tensions.

The South Korean military concluded on Monday that North Korean troops planted the mines south of the Military Demarcation Line.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Seoul is considering sending a letter to the president of the U.N. Security Council.

Possible U.N. responses include a statement by the UNSC chief, adoption of a resolution, sending a letter, or taking no action.

Cho said South Korea, North Korea and the U.N. Command should jointly manage Military Demarcation Line markers, but Pyongyang has not responded to Seoul’s proposal.

Published Oct 6, 2026 5:50 pm KST

Updated Oct 6, 2026 9:07 pm KST

Maj. Gen. Yang Jin-hyuk, director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefs reporters on the final findings of a joint investigation into the recent land mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that South Korea is considering calling on the United Nations to take action against North Korea for planting land mines south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

He made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry, following the South Korean military concluding on Monday that North Korean troops had planted land mines south of the MDL in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The mines exploded on Sept. 21 and seriously injured several South Korean soldiers. The U.N. Command (UNC) determined that placing the mines violated the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement.

Cho said the government is considering imposing unilateral sanctions targeting North Korea, as well as sending a letter to the president of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) to call for U.N.-level action.

When asked what actions would be possible, Cho said, "If the issue is dealt with at the UNSC, it could lead to a statement by the UNSC chief or the adoption of a resolution. Or we could just send a letter or not do it at all ... We are reviewing all four options."

Cho said holding North Korea accountable and preventing an unnecessary escalation of tensions should go hand in hand. He described the objectives as “two sides of the same coin,” saying the government would continue efforts on both fronts.

Cho also backed the need for the two Koreas and the UNC to jointly manage MDL markers, saying Seoul has been discussing the issue with the command but Pyongyang has not responded to the proposal.

9月21日，一枚埋设在非军事区军事分界线以南的地雷爆炸，造成多名韩国士兵重伤。韩国正考虑请求联合国对朝鲜采取行动。联合国军司令部认定，此次地雷埋设违反了1953年《朝鲜停战协定》。韩国外长赵显铉表示，首尔正在评估单边制裁和联合国可能的应对措施，同时力求防止紧张局势升级。

韩国军方周一得出结论，朝鲜军队在军事分界线以南埋设了地雷。

韩国外交部长赵显铉表示，首尔正在考虑致函联合国安理会主席。

联合国可能的应对措施包括安理会主席发表声明、通过决议、发出信函或不采取任何行动。

赵表示，韩国、朝鲜和联合国军司令部应该共同管理军事分界线标志，但平壤尚未对首尔的提议作出回应。

发布于2026年10月6日下午5:50（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月6日晚上9:07（韩国标准时间）

周一，韩国联合参谋本部作战部长杨镇赫少将在首尔国防部向记者通报了近期非军事区地雷爆炸事件联合调查的最终结果。（韩联社）

韩国外交部长赵显铉周二表示，韩国正在考虑呼吁联合国对朝鲜在军事分界线（MDL）以南埋设地雷的行为采取行动。

在韩国军方周一得出结论，认定朝鲜军队在非军事区（DMZ）军事分界线（MDL）以南埋设地雷后，他在议会就外交部进行审计期间发表了上述言论。这些地雷于9月21日爆炸，造成数名韩国士兵重伤。联合国军司令部认定，埋设地雷违反了1953年《朝鲜停战协定》。

赵表示，政府正在考虑对朝鲜实施单边制裁，并致函联合国安理会主席，呼吁联合国层面采取行动。

当被问及可能采取哪些行动时，赵表示：“如果这个问题在联合国安理会得到解决，可能会促使安理会主席发表声明或通过一项决议。或者我们也可以只发一封信，或者干脆什么都不做……我们正在考虑所有这四种方案。”

赵表示，追究朝鲜的责任和防止不必要的紧张局势升级应该齐头并进。他把这两个目标比作“一枚硬币的两面”，并表示政府将继续在这两个方面努力。

赵也支持朝韩两国和联合国军共同管理MDL标记的必要性，称首尔一直在与指挥部讨论这个问题，但平壤尚未对此提议作出回应。