(LEAD) N. Korea denies responsibility for DMZ mine blast, warns S. Korea of retaliation

North Korea has formally denied responsibility for recent landmine explosions within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separate the two countries. The denial comes in response to accusations from South Korea, which stated that the North was "highly suspected" of causing the two blasts and condemned the incident as a clear violation of their armistice agreement.

Alongside denying involvement in the DMZ explosions, North Korea issued a warning of retaliation against South Korea. The developments mark a sharp escalation in cross-border tensions between the neighboring nations following the volatile incidents in the demilitarized zone.