Seoul, October 6 (Daily Kiran) : South Korea’s Defense Minister, Kang Shin-chul, announced on Tuesday that the removal of landmines from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) serves as a “decisive response” to North Korea. He emphasized that such an operation within the DMZ is unprecedented.
Kang’s remarks came a day after the South Korean military conducted a landmine removal operation at a site where three soldiers were injured in an explosion on September 21, two of whom sustained serious injuries. The joint investigation by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command (UNC) concluded that the anti-personnel mines were deliberately placed south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), attributed to North Korean forces.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of National Defense, Kang stated that the landmine removal effort was a crucial response to the threat posed by North Korea. He dismissed criticisms suggesting that the South Korean military’s reaction has been overly passive or merely defensive.
Kang noted that South Korean soldiers had been severely injured by mines laid under the pretext of strengthening the border, prompting the military to take necessary action. On Monday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and UNC identified additional landmines around the explosion site, leading to the removal operation, which commenced around 12:51 PM.
The South Korean military indicated that if North Korea does not take steps to remove its own landmines, similar operations will continue in the area. The Defense Minister asserted that South Korea would respond decisively to any activities that threaten national security, although he did not elaborate on potential next steps.
Meanwhile, North Korea has rejected the findings from South Korea and the UNC. Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, labeled the accusations as fabricated and warned that Pyongyang would take countermeasures if South Korea acted on its claims.
The South Korean military’s investigation found evidence linking the explosive devices to North Korean forces, comparing the structure and materials of the mines to previously recovered North Korean devices. This development occurs amid heightened tensions along the border, with North Korea reportedly reinforcing barbed wire fences, laying additional landmines, and erecting anti-tank barriers.
Despite this aggressive stance, the South Korean government has expressed a willingness to keep communication channels open. Just a day earlier, the Ministry of Unification reiterated its commitment to seeking peaceful resolutions to inter-Korean issues, aiming for lasting peace through dialogue rather than confrontation.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has also reaffirmed his commitment to reducing military tensions and restoring dialogue between the two nations, emphasizing the need for trust-building measures.
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