SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea has criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for calling on the two Koreas to reduce tensions through dialogue following a landmine explosion at their border.

Pyongyang accused him of supporting South Korea's position, state media reported on Tuesday.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said Guterres had taken a "prejudiced and irresponsible" position by repeating South Korea's claims about the explosion in September.

In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said the UN chief had accepted Seoul's account without properly understanding what had happened.

She said his remarks did not help efforts to reduce tensions between the two countries.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that Guterres had encouraged North Korea and South Korea to restart dialogue. He said the UN chief had called for discussions, including at the military level, to prevent accidental clashes.

Tensions between the two countries have increased since a landmine exploded inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in September, seriously injuring several South Korean soldiers who were carrying out a reconnaissance mission.

South Korea has blamed North Korean mines for the explosion.

However, Pyongyang has denied responsibility. North Korea said its troops had been carrying out operations inside the DMZ to strengthen border security.

It also maintained that its military activities had not violated the UN Charter or international law.

The two countries remain technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.