Washington:U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the restoration of communication channels between South and North Korea amid concerns over a potential escalation of tensions across the border.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Guterres expressed concerns about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, particularly the potential escalation of tensions across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric conveyed Guterres' message during a regular press briefing, emphasizing the need for the resumption of communication channels, including military-to-military communications, to avoid unintended accidents or miscalculations.
The call for renewed communication comes in the wake of heightened tensions along the inter-Korean border 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 concluded that North Korea had deliberately planted antipersonnel mines south of the Military Demarcation Line, an accusation that North Korea has denied.
South Korea raised the incident with the U.N. Security Council in a letter dated October 22, urging North Korea to apologize, remove the mines, and prevent future occurrences. Dujarric reiterated the importance of diplomatic efforts and engagement as the only way to reduce tensions and achieve sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.