Tri-Service

North Korea Denies Responsibility For Landmine Blasts

North Korea has denied planting landmines in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between it and South Korea, that seriously wounded two soldiers.

One South Korean soldier lost both his legs in the blast, while his comrade lost one, with South Korea's military promising "searing" consequences.

But Pyongyang says it would "make no sense" for it to place landmines in the area as it only uses them for defence, and has called on its neighbour to provide proof that it planted them.

The country's state KCNA news agency quoted its National Defence Commission as saying:

"If South Korea wants to keep insisting this was our army's act, then show a video to prove it."

"If you don't have it [video proof], don't ever say 'North Korean provocation' again out of your mouth."

South Korea, though, argues that video footage was impossible to obtain because of reduced visibility due to heavy rain and thick woods.

Seoul added that the area has recently been swept for mines, and that it's not possible they could have moved through shifting soil.

A South Korean sentry near the DMZ (Picture: Johannes Barre)

It's also been claimed that paint used by North Korea was found on wooden fragments from the exploded mines.

Following the explosions the South has resumed its anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts, across the world's most heavily-armed border, for the first time in 11 years.

The US-led UN Command, meanwhile, has asked North Korea for a meeting to discuss the incident.