Erbil:Washington: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the restoration of communication channels between South and North Korea due to concerns about escalating tensions across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
According to Yonhap News Agency, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated during a regular press briefing that Guterres is worried about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, particularly the potential for tensions to escalate further across the DMZ. Guterres encourages relevant parties to resume communication channels, including military-to-military communications, to avoid unintended accidents or miscalculations.
The call for renewed communication comes amid heightened tensions following a land mine explosion on September 21 inside the DMZ, which injured three South Korean soldiers. A joint investigation by South Korea's military and the U.N. Command determined that the explosion was caused by antipersonnel mines deliberately planted by North Korea. North Korea, however, has denied responsibility, dismissing Seoul's findings as fabricated.
South Korea has since raised the incident with the U.N. Security Council, urging Pyongyang to apologize, remove the mines, and take steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future.