[Anchor]

North Korea has repeated its claims that the landmine explosion incident was a fabricated hoax by South Korea, stating that it has nothing to do with them whether Seoul removes the landmines or not. In the process, it threatened an immediate and powerful response if its territory is infringed upon by even 1 millimeter.

Reporter Kim Ayeong has the details.

[Reporter]

North Korea released its reaction just one day after the South Korean military authorities announced the final investigation results regarding the landmine explosion in the western front-line area.

Instead of Workers' Party Deputy Department Director Kim Yo-jong, who repeatedly stepped forward following the South Korean military's interim investigation announcement, the North's Foreign Ministry appeared this time, seemingly reflecting the hostile two-state relationship.

Through a statement, the Foreign Ministry re-characterized the landmine explosion as a "fabricated farce planned and staged by Seoul," claiming it was nothing more than a petty trick to shift the blame for an "accident of their own making" onto Pyongyang.

It also rejected Seoul's proposal to discuss Military Demarcation Line standards, stating that military sovereignty issues within its territory will not be discussed with a hostile nation.

Regarding the landmine clearance operations, the ministry claimed it is none of its business, stating that South Korea can remove whatever landmines it wants since they have nothing to do with the North.

At the same time, it threatened that if military boots or sparks violate its territory by even 1 millimeter, the border armed forces will take immediate and powerful retaliatory action, emphasizing once again that if a similar incident occurs again, the responsibility lies entirely with the side that suffered the accident.

Analysts suggest this is also a dimension of denying responsibility for the landmine explosion while issuing a warning against South Korea's military measures around the Military Demarcation Line.

(Video Editing: Oh Young-taek)