At a two‑day G20 foreign‑minister meeting in Atlanta, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun outlined Seoul’s position on the September 21 land‑mine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that wounded three South Korean soldiers.
Cho Hyun told the assembled ministers that the blast, which occurred inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas, was a deliberate act carried out by North Korea. He said Seoul has blamed the North for the incident and has called for military talks to ease tensions on the peninsula.
North Korea, in turn, has denied any responsibility and vowed to take military action along the border if necessary. Cho noted that Pyongyang has denied northern involvement in the blast, and the Korean government is urging the United Nations and other international bodies to support inter‑Korean dialogue.
During the meeting, Cho also highlighted concerns about growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. He said the two sides have forged closer ties through the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, a development he said has serious implications for security on the Korean Peninsula and the broader region.
He asked members of the G20 for support of Seoul’s efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and to reduce tensions across the peninsula. The Korean foreign‑minister also began to emphasize the need for international cooperation to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for freedom of navigation, adding that Seoul will continue to make substantive contributions to ensure safe passage in the strategic waterway.
In summary, Cho Hyun used the G20 forum to stress that communication between the two Koreas is more important than ever, and that renewed diplomatic engagement is essential to de‑escalate tensions triggered by the latest mine blast. He also warned of the dangerous implications of increased North‑Russia collaboration, calling on the international community to act in support of a stable and peaceful peninsula.
