SEOUL - The South Korean military on Monday released its final investigation findings that North Korea was responsible for planting mines on the southern side of the Military Demarcation Line that later exploded, injuring three military officers.
The military has removed some of the mines, saying they were laid in violation of the two countries' armistice agreement, and demanded that Pyongyang immediately remove the remaining mines and offer a "heartfelt apology" to the injured soldiers.
South Korea's military said it will continue removing the mines if North Korea does not remove them voluntarily.
The explosions occurred in late September on the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone near the inter-Korean military demarcation line. The buffer zone is about 250 kilometers long and 4 km wide.
North Korea has claimed that the blasts were staged by South Korea.
Pyongyang has been referring to the line as its border and has stepped up efforts to plant landmines and install barbed wire on the northern side of the DMZ.
The South Korean military believes the recently found landmines are part of those efforts.
