North Korean landmine response attack… “Responsibility must be held” vs “fundamental measures are important”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Ha Chae-rim and Yoon Bo-ram = In the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit of the Ministry of Unification, criticism from the opposition party and the Ministry of Unification's explanation clashed with the government's response to the mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Rep. Park Chung-kwon of the People Power Party opened the debate by asking whether President Lee Jae-myung agreed with President Lee Jae-myung's definition of the North Korean landmine explosion as an "unforeseen accident."

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young responded, “It was a landmine explosion.” Minister Chung described it as an “unfortunate accident” in his greeting before asking questions.

Rep. Han Dong-hoon of the People Power Party also criticized, saying, “How can it be an unfortunate accident that buried a landmine near our military?”

He continued, “The problem is that the part about holding North Korea responsible for planting landmines to attack and injure our troops is missing.”

Rep. Park also criticized the Ministry of National Defense's surprise minefield removal operation, calling it "stupid" and questioning its appropriateness.

Minister Jeong countered by saying that the mine removal operation was “not stupid, but did what it had to do,” and that “ensuring safety is more important than anything else.”

In response to the continued criticism from opposition party members that North Korea must be held accountable, Minister Chung emphasized that “hostility and hatred have made this happen,” and that “resolving this is the fundamental measure.”

Following the previous day's National Assembly inspection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, questions were asked about reports that there was a conflict of opinion between Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun and Minister Chung over the government's independent sanctions plan targeting North Korea's illegal cyber activities at the National Security Council (NSC) earlier this month.

When asked by Representative Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Power Party whether the Ministry of Unification opposed the plan to independently sanction cyber activities, Minister Chung responded to the effect that he opposed it by saying, "That was also reported in the media."

Regarding the reason for opposition, Minister Jeong said, "At this point, what is the connection between cyber activity sanctions and landmine explosion response? The connection is weak."

In response, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party pointed out that "North Korea's cyber hacking is a truly serious problem and cannot be ignored."

Nevertheless, Minister Jeong maintained his position, saying, “It is not an appropriate response to a landmine explosion.”

Regarding the NSC's discussion of independent sanctions, when a lawmaker asked, "There was a rumor that there was a clash with shouting. Did the voices get louder?", Minister Jeong avoided a direct answer, saying, "It's just like Minister Cho Hyun said yesterday."

Minister Cho responded at the National Assembly inspection the previous day, saying, “There was no conflict,” but “there may be differences of opinion.”