Kang Shin-cheol responds to North Korea's Foreign Ministry's statement, "Entrance a day after landmine removal... seems embarrassed."

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)."

He also said that "we are also paying attention to the fact that the statement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

North Korea issued a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the afternoon of the previous afternoon, 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.'

Among experts, there was also an assessment that the tone was adjusted as it took the form of a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a state agency, unlike the previous statement made by Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of Chairman Kim Jong-un.

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, he said, “We have completely (cleared) the area where the explosion occurred.”

Regarding the 21st Division area, where recent North Korean military border crossings have been taking place, he said, "I believe they have judged it to be their area and are patrolling it," and mentioned that most of the troops invading the MDL are coming in unarmed, wearing helmets but not carrying rifles.

In this area, North Korea's front-line post (GP) troops patrol approximately 10 meters south of the MDL every day, using the barren work area as a patrol route, and frequent crossings are taking place.

Minister Kang said, “We are responding resolutely every day,” and added, “North Korea, the UNC, and our South side think it is necessary to ‘check it on the spot.’”

In addition, he emphasized, "In the DMZ, initiative is important," and "Even after the explosion, the DMZ operation was implemented without scale-down or anything like that, and the military was making efforts to continuously seize the initiative."

When asked by Rep. Chun Jun-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea whether the claim that the government is leaning against North Korea is true or false, Minister Kang emphasized, "It is not true at all."

When Rep. Cheon pointed out that the Ministry of National Defense did not take any special measures during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration regarding North Korea's border fortification that began in April 2024, he seemed to agree, saying, "I don't remember taking any special measures."