Seoul: North Korea has criticised United Nations Secretary General António Guterres for urging renewed dialogue between North and South Korea, accusing him of favouring Seoul amid growing tensions along their heavily guarded border.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, made the criticism in a statement carried by North Korea's state run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday. She accused Guterres of taking a biased position by referring to South Korea's account of a recent landmine incident near the border.
Kim described the UN chief's remarks as irresponsible and argued that they would not help reduce tensions between the two countries. Her criticism followed Guterres's expression of concern about the situation on the Korean Peninsula and his call for both sides to restore communication and pursue dialogue.
The United Nations has said that better communication between the two countries is necessary to prevent misunderstandings and avoid further military incidents. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres supported the restoration of communication channels, including direct military contact, to prevent accidental clashes and miscalculations.
The disagreement follows an incident on September 21, when two landmines exploded inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), injuring three South Korean soldiers. The soldiers were conducting a reconnaissance mission when the explosions occurred. Two of them suffered serious injuries.
South Korea later blamed North Korea for planting the mines. On October 5, South Korean military officials announced that an investigation conducted jointly with the United Nations Command had concluded that the explosions were caused by North Korean antipersonnel mines deliberately planted in the area rather than carried there by floodwaters.
The investigation placed the explosion sites approximately 10 metres south of the Military Demarcation Line, which separates the two countries within the DMZ. Investigators also examined recovered mine fragments and evidence from the injured soldiers before reaching their conclusions.
North Korea has rejected the accusations, describing South Korea's findings as fabricated. Pyongyang has also defended its military activities along the border, saying that its efforts to strengthen security in the area are legitimate defensive measures.
The incident has added to already strained relations between the two countries. North Korea has been strengthening its border defences since April 2024, with activities including the construction of barriers, installation of fencing and the planting of landmines.
Relations have deteriorated further since Kim Jong Un announced a major shift in North Korea's policy towards South Korea in 2023, describing the two countries as hostile states rather than partners working towards reunification. The change has raised concerns about future relations between the two Koreas and the possibility of further military incidents.
South Korea has also taken the dispute to the international level. On October 22, its Ambassador to the United Nations, Cha Ji hoon, sent a letter to the UN Security Council outlining the findings of the landmine investigation and calling on North Korea to accept responsibility.
Seoul urged Pyongyang to apologise, remove remaining mines and take steps to prevent similar incidents. The letter also defended South Korean military activities near the border as necessary measures to protect its soldiers and prevent further security threats.
The United Nations released the letter as an official Security Council document on November 3. However, its circulation does not mean that the Security Council has formally condemned North Korea or adopted measures against it.
The latest disagreement highlights the difficulties facing the United Nations in encouraging dialogue between the two neighbouring countries. While Guterres has called for communication to prevent further escalation, North Korea's response suggests that Pyongyang remains unwilling to accept an approach it considers favourable to South Korea.
There has been no confirmed announcement that North Korea has agreed to restore military communication channels or resume formal dialogue with Seoul. The possibility of further tensions remains a concern as both countries continue to maintain a strong military presence along their shared border.
The Korean Peninsula has remained divided since the Korean War ended with an armistice agreement in 1953. The agreement stopped active fighting but did not establish a permanent peace treaty, leaving the two countries technically still at war.
International efforts to reduce tensions have repeatedly faced difficulties, with disagreements over security, military activities and North Korea's weapons programmes continuing to affect relations.
Guterres's appeal for renewed communication reflects ongoing international concern that misunderstandings or unexpected border incidents could spark a wider confrontation. However, North Korea's latest criticism has added another diplomatic challenge to efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.