The United Nations Command has determined that North Korea's laying of an anti-personnel mine south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) constitutes a violation of the Korean War armistice.
The command said on the 30th that it discovered one North Korean anti-personnel mine south of the MDL while conducting a joint on-site investigation with South Korean troops into a mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
The UNC, which holds the authority to determine whether the armistice has been breached, said in a statement that "based on the findings of the investigation, United Nations Command has determined that an armistice violation occurred, and is taking action in accordance with the established armistice framework."
The command carried out the three-day joint investigation with South Korean troops starting on the 27th, examining the explosion that took place in the DMZ on the 21st.
During the investigation the previous day, the UNC and South Korean troops found one North Korean plastic anti-personnel mine.
Because the mine was found in South Korean territory south of the MDL, the command concluded that the violation was clear.
The UNC said it "remains committed to maintaining and implementing the armistice, and to fulfilling its responsibility to preserve stability on the Korean Peninsula and prevent escalation of tensions."
It is the first time the UNC has concluded that the DMZ mine explosion involved a violation of the armistice.
