What did Kim Yo-jong say about South Korea’s DMZ mine blast claim?

Kim Yo-jong rejected Seoul’s conclusion and said the South Korean military was cooking up groundless results for political and military provocation. She warned that if South Korean troops fire at North Korean soldiers, border units would carry out an immediate and merciless retaliatory attack.

When did the DMZ blast happen and how many South Korean soldiers were hurt?

The explosion took place on Sept. 21 inside the DMZ. It left three South Korean soldiers injured, and the South Korean military said the blast occurred during an operation tied to a joint inspection with the U.N. Command.

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

Q: Why does South Korea say the mine blast may be a violation of the Armistice Agreement?

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said the mine found near the explosion site suggested North Korea had planted mines at several locations south of the Military Demarcation Line. He said that would be a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement and that Seoul would take corresponding measures in stages.

Listen

Summary

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.

Key Facts

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.

By Yonhap

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.

Explore More