[Anchor]
The South Korean military has strongly demanded an official apology and responsible measures from North Korea. It also urged Pyongyang to halt its "border fortification work." However, the military did not disclose today (September 30) what countermeasures it might take. Meanwhile, the United Nations Command has determined that North Korea violated the Armistice Agreement.
Choi Jae-yeong reports.
[Reporter]
Today, nine days after a landmine explosion occurred on the western front, the South Korean military issued a statement under the name of the Director of Operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The military urged North Korea to apologize and take responsible measures after South Korean service members conducting a routine search operation were seriously injured by North Korean landmines.
In particular, it stated that the incident took place during North Korea's border fortification efforts and demanded that the work be stopped immediately.
[Kang Hyun-woo / Director of Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff: North Korea must immediately cease activities that escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula, such as its so-called border fortification, and we strongly urge an apology and responsible measures from the North.]
He also made it clear that North Korea bears full responsibility for any situations that arise in the future.
However, the military made no particular mention of what countermeasures it would take going forward.
The United Nations Command announced, "Through an on-site investigation, one North Korean anti-personnel mine was discovered south of the Military Demarcation Line on the Republic of Korea side," adding, "We have determined that a violation of the Armistice Agreement has occurred."
As the UNC, which oversees and supervises the Demilitarized Zone under the Armistice Agreement, declared North Korea's armistice violation, further weight has been added to the South Korean military's position holding Pyongyang responsible.
The UNC added that it is "taking action in accordance with established armistice mechanisms," and is expected to proceed with follow-up steps such as notifying the North of the violation.
Under UNC manuals, when an armistice violation is confirmed, a warning is issued through military communication channels, and efforts are made to resolve the issue to prevent political escalation.
During the 2015 wooden-box landmine incident, the UNC proposed general-level talks to North Korea, but Pyongyang rejected the proposal at the time.
(Video by Lim Woo-sik and Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing by Won Hyung-hee | Graphics by Hwang Se-yeon)
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