North Korea has accused South Korea of fabricating a landmine explosion near the countries’ border and warned Seoul it would bear full responsibility for the consequences of any violation of North Korean territory.

Axar.az reports, citing the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), that Pyongyang’s permanent representative to the United Nations sent a letter to the president of the UN Security Council on October 25 over the September 21 incident.

The letter described the alleged mine explosion as a “sinister attempt” by Seoul to obstruct and delay North Korea’s border fortification work by portraying it as a “military invasion.”

Pyongyang said the fortification of its southern border was a self-defensive measure to protect its territory from external threats, describing it as a legitimate exercise of sovereignty in line with the UN Charter and international law.

North Korea also accused South Korean forces of reckless provocations, including firing shots that allegedly endangered the safety of North Korean soldiers working on border fortifications.

“We remind you that if the ROK would intrude into the territory of our State even a single millimeter or commit a direct provocation endangering the safety and security of our soldiers, the DPRK has the legitimate right to exercise its right to self-defence as stipulated in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations,” the letter said.

It warned that South Korea would bear full responsibility for the consequences if it violated North Korea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

South Korea’s military and the UN Command previously concluded that North Korean troops had deliberately planted anti-personnel mines south of the Military Demarcation Line. Pyongyang has rejected the findings.