▲ The Joint Chiefs of Staff released a photo on October 5 while announcing the final findings of the joint on-site investigation task force regarding the landmine explosion during the 25th Division's DMZ operation. The photo is a captured frame from video footage of an operation conducted that day to remove North Korean landmines south of the MDL.
North Korea has once again denied the South Korean military authorities' announcement that a recent explosion in the western front Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was caused by landmines laid by North Korean troops, dismissing it as "a farce staged by Seoul" and warning of an immediate and strong response if the South encroaches by even 1 mm.
North Korea's reaction came just a day after the South Korean military released the final findings of its investigation.
In a statement titled "We Will Be More Resolute and Clear in Exercising Our Sovereignty Toward the Most Hostile State," North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled the landmine explosion "a farcical puppet show staged by Seoul," claiming it was "nothing more than a shallow ploy by the South Korean military to find an escape route by shifting the blame onto us for a questionable accident they suffered on their own."
It further argued that the South Korean military's announcement was a "grave provocation that can never be tolerated" and a "severe act of sovereignty violation that must be made to pay a price."
The Foreign Ministry also dismissed South Korea's proposal to discuss the standards of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), saying it would not discuss military sovereignty within its territory with an adversary state.
Regarding the landmine clearance operation conducted by the South Korean military yesterday on October 5, it said, "Whether they clear landmines that have nothing to do with us or not is none of our business," adding, "There is no reason whatsoever for us to play along with South Korea's farce."
This is interpreted as an indication of its intention to continue border fortification work, including installing barbed-wire fences and landmines around the Military Demarcation Line.
The Foreign Ministry went on to warn that it would take "an immediate and strong response if even 1 mm of territory is encroached upon" by the South.
It also emphasized that even if a similar incident occurs again, it would be entirely the responsibility of the party that suffered the accident.
Analysts suggest this is aimed at both denying responsibility for the landmine explosion and sending a warning against South Korea's military actions along the Military Demarcation Line.
Unlike following the South Korean military's interim investigation results, when Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea, came forward successively, this time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stepped in. This is seen as reflecting North Korea's definition of inter-Korean relations as those between two hostile states.
(Photo courtesy of JCS, Yonhap News)
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