North Korea Threatens South Korea With ‘Powerful Counteraction’ Over Landmine Blast

SEOUL, October 6, 2026 — North Korea has warned South Korea that it will take “immediate and powerful counteraction” if Seoul violates its territory, escalating tensions between the two countries following a landmine explosion that injured two South Korean soldiers.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected South Korea’s accusation that Pyongyang planted the anti-personnel mine responsible for the September 21 blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Pyongyang described Seoul’s investigation, which was conducted jointly with the United Nations Command and supported by scientific analysis, as a “premeditated farce” intended to blame North Korea and justify diplomatic and military action against it.

The North Korean ministry called South Korea’s findings a “grave provocation” and accused Seoul of violating its sovereignty.

It warned that any South Korean military activity that crosses the border, even by a small distance, would trigger a strong response from North Korean border forces.

North Korea also said it would not interfere with South Korea’s ongoing mine-removal operations but warned that Seoul would bear full responsibility if another incident occurred.

South Korea has accused North Korea of deploying thousands of workers to strengthen its border defenses since 2024, including the installation of landmines and fences.

Seoul has demanded that Pyongyang apologise and remove mines it says were planted in violation of the Korean War armistice. South Korea has also begun its own mine-removal operations in the area.

The latest warning follows similar remarks by Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who previously rejected South Korea’s demand for an apology.

The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1950–1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.

Relations between the neighbours have remained tense, with North Korea rejecting South Korean proposals for dialogue since declaring South Korea a “hostile” state in 2023.