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U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for communication channels between South and North Korea to be restored amid concerns that tensions along the Demilitarized Zone could escalate.
“The Secretary-General remains concerned about the situation in the Korean Peninsula, including potential escalation of tensions across the Demilitarized Zone,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a regular press briefing Thursday.
Dujarric said Guterres was encouraging the parties to resume communication channels, including direct military-to-military contacts, to reduce the risk of unintended incidents or miscalculations.
“Diplomatic engagement and renewed dialogue remain the only pathway to reduce tensions and to achieve sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Dujarric said.
The remarks came amid heightened tensions following a Sept. 21 land mine explosion inside the DMZ that injured three South Korean soldiers, two of them seriously.
A joint investigation by South Korea’s military and the U.N. Command concluded that the blast was caused by antipersonnel mines deliberately planted by North Korea south of the Military Demarcation Line.
North Korea denied responsibility and rejected Seoul’s findings as fabricated.
South Korea brought the incident to the U.N. Security Council in a letter dated Oct. 22.
Seoul called on Pyongyang to apologize, remove the mines and take measures to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
The U.N. chief’s latest appeal focused on restoring communication and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation on the Korean Peninsula.
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