North Korea laid mines that hurt troops

South Korea has ramped up border security in the wake of the blasts and – after a break of more than a decade – resumed the broadcast of propaganda messages into the North, using batteries of powerful loudspeakers set up at several sites along the border.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary has condemned North Korea over landmine blasts which injured two South Korean soldiers close to the demilitarised zone.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Monday criticised the North’s “regrettable” decision to turn back its clocks to a new time zone, saying it would deepen divisions between the two rivals.

“When we have the psychological warfare – the leaflets or the loudspeakers – basically the message is: the current leader is doing a very bad job, that their human rights are being violated, and that there’s a much better world outside that they should be aware of”, said Lee, an associate professor of global relations at Yonsei University in Seoul.

In Seoul, the presidential Blue House demanded an apology for what it called a “clear breach” of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

One soldier had both his legs amputated, while another also had one leg removed.

At present, local time in North and South Korea and Japan is the same – nine hours ahead of GMT.

But the defence ministry said further tests had confirmed “they were North Korean land mines – planted with the intention to kill”.

Speaking to reporters during a two-day trip to South Korea, Philip Hammond said the blasts “threatened stability in this region”.

“I believe this will be strategically significant in countering North Korea and I’m also considering other measures”. South Korean troops patrol the southern part of the buffer zone.

The Yonhap news agency reported that military defences were being ramped up and local farmers told to leave their fields in case of North Korean retaliation. Military strikes are unlikely, as the North has placed a huge portion of its artillery within striking distance of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

The U.S.- drove United Nations Summon led an examination that pointed the finger at North Korea for the mines. The land mines used wooden boxes and were of North Korean origin and were probably planted between July 22 and Tuesday, he said. He said the broadcasts emphasized that the mine explosions were a provocation by the North.

In a statement issued by Joint Chiefs of Staff, South Korea appealed for Pyongyang to apologize and penalize those responsible for the explosion.

Choe had worked on inter-Korean affairs in 2000s, leading the North’s delegation in joint economic cooperation committees with South Korea between 2003 and 2005.