South Korea Urges North to Resume Dialogue

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung urged North Korea on Thursday to contribute to restoring trust and resuming dialogue, one day after Seoul and Pyongyang exchanged sharp criticisms over a landmine incident described by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command as a violation of the Armistice Agreement.

In a speech delivered on the occasion of Armed Forces Day in the country, Lee said, "I hope that North Korea will now join us on the path to restoring trust and resuming dialogue after a long interruption," adding that his administration "will continue to seek practical measures to reduce military tensions between the two Koreas."

The South Korean military and the United Nations Command stated last week that North Korea violated the Armistice Agreement after a landmine explosion injured three South Korean soldiers in the demilitarized zone.

Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, rejected these findings in a statement on Wednesday, accusing Seoul of fabricating results and warning of retaliation.

Lee's government has sought to reopen dialogue with North Korea, but Pyongyang has largely rejected Seoul's initiatives and continued advancing border fortification activities along the demilitarized zone.