(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Hyo-jung and Kim Cheol-seon = Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-cheol said on the 7th in response to the North Korean Foreign Ministry's statement the previous day, which repeatedly denied that the cause of the explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was a North Korean landmine, "I believe they were also quite embarrassed by our response."
Minister Kang said this during the audit of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on this day, saying, "Before, (North Korea's) position was announced immediately, but it took about a day after (the announcement of the military's final investigation results and the mine removal operation)."
North Korea issued a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the afternoon before, a day after our military announced the final investigation results that the cause of the DMZ explosion was a North Korean landmine south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and carried out a mine removal operation, repeatedly claiming that this was an "act of its own making."
When Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the People's Power Party pointed out that 'it is believed that hundreds of North Korean land mines are buried just south of the MDL,' Minister Kang said, "We also have that view," and mentioned that it should be confirmed with the United Nations Command (UN Command).
When asked if there were any other areas south of the MDL suspected of having North Korean mines in addition to the 25th Division where the explosion occurred, he simply answered “several locations” and said, “After conducting a joint investigation with the United Nations Command to confirm, we will continue to take necessary measures.”
It is known that the area suspected of North Korean landmines south of the MDL is not limited to the 25th Division.
Regarding the results of this mine removal operation, it was evaluated that “the mines in the area (where the explosion occurred) have been removed.”
Regarding the 21st Division area, where North Korean troops have recently been making frequent border crossings, he said, "I believe they have decided that it is their area and are patrolling it," and expressed the opinion that on-site confirmation by South and North Korea and the United Nations Command is necessary.
He stated that most of the troops invading the 21st Division's MDL were in patrol teams unarmed, wearing helmets but not carrying rifles, but later corrected this by saying, "Working troops are unarmed, but patrol troops have personal firearms."
In this area, the North Korean army's front-line post (GP) troops patrol about 10 meters south of the MDL, crossing the line, but retreating after warning shots from our side are repeated every day.
On this day, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a fierce battle over which government was responsible for responding to North Korea's border fortification that began in April 2024.
Representative Cheon Jun-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea pointed out that the Yoon Seok-yeol government was only focused on preparing for martial law and responded laxly to important security issues. Minister Kang seemed to agree, saying, “I don’t remember any special measures taken by the Yoon Seok-yeol government.”
On the other hand, Rep. Han Ki-ho of the People's Power Party said, "The actual planting of landmines will be approximately in the mid-to-late half of 2025," and mentioned the need for a government investigation, saying, "We need to ask who is responsible for this."
Rep. Yoo Yong-won presented data showing that the Joint Chiefs of Staff evaluated the explosion area south of the MDL as a presumed mine-laid zone from the initial reading of satellite images, a joint ROK-U.S. collection asset, in September of last year, and urged, “Report and response details should be disclosed transparently.”
When asked, "What would you do if you had received a report like this?" Minister Kang Shin-cheol explained, "We would have issued the necessary guidelines, confirmed them, and promoted (response). However, I understand that such guidelines and situational measures were promoted at the time."
It was also pointed out that the September 19 military agreement created a security vacuum in the MDL area.
When People Power Party lawmaker Kang Seon-young criticized that aerial reconnaissance in the MDL area was severely restricted due to the September 19 military agreement, Minister Kang agreed, saying, “I think that’s the case, too.”
However, Minister Kang emphasized, "The military agreement between South and North Korea is clearly meaningful, but these things are changing due to political issues. No matter which government's policy changes, the military remains the same. There are no ruling or opposition parties in security."
There was also a battle over whether the mine removal operation was a sufficient response to North Korea. People Power Party lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk criticized Minister Kang, saying, “The landmine explosion seen this time is a show.”
Minister Kang consistently emphasized his position that it was a resolute response, saying, “This is the first operation in which our military has removed landmines planted by the enemy beyond the MDL.”
When Representative Lim attacked the government's announcement for missing the word 'provocation', Minister Kang countered by saying, "We told you it was a provocation."
In addition, when People Power Party lawmaker Seong Il-jong criticized President Lee Jae-myung for describing the DMZ explosion as an "unfortunate accident" at the Armed Forces Day event, Minister Kang said, "I think he said that from the perspective of our comrades in arms."
