North Korea Denies It Apologized Over Mine Blast

North Korea said Wednesday that its recent expression of “regret” over a mine explosion that maimed two South Korean soldiers was not an apology

In this Aug. 9, 2015 file photo provided by the Defense Ministry, an unidentified South Korean army official, second from right, gives a briefing to the media at the scene of a blast inside the demilitarized zone in Paju, South Korea. The Defense Ministry via AP

SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea said Wednesday that its recent expression of “regret” over a mine explosion that maimed two South Korean soldiers was not an apology, as Seoul claims — raising doubts about tentative moves toward detente between the rivals.

The statement by Pyongyang’s powerful National Defense Commission is the first explicit denial of Seoul’s interpretation of the key part of an accord that came last week after marathon negotiations allowed the Koreas to step back from escalating threats of war.

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