[Anchor]
North Korea has recently issued a series of statements denying its involvement in the recent landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Internally, however, it has not made a single mention of the incident. This is a markedly different response from the wooden-box landmine incident in 2015.
Reporter Kim Ayeong examined the reasons behind this.
[Reporter]
General Secretary Kim Jong Un appeared at a performance venue alongside his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, Ju Ae.
He attended an event celebrating the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea yesterday (October 10), but released no external messages.
Today (October 11) marks the 21st day since the DMZ landmine explosion occurred, and North Korea has issued statements five times so far, actively denying the South Korean military's announcement that the incident was caused by landmines planted by North Korean troops.
However, these statements were carried exclusively by external-facing media outlets, with no news delivered to its own residents.
What was it like right after the wooden-box landmine incident in August 2015?
At the time, North Korea issued a statement refuting the accusations 11 days after the incident and broadcast it directly on Korean Central Television (KCTV), which its residents watch.
It even aired broadcasts such as this:
[North Korean Worker (KCTV, 2015): "A stick is truly the best medicine for a mad dog. With the mindset of beating a mad dog to death, we will make the clamor of production roar even louder."]
Back then, the regime appeared to have assessed that it could heighten hostility toward the South and leverage it for social mobilization.
This time, however, Kim Yo Jong has come forward stating that the goal is the permanent severing of inter-Korean ties. Considering that North Korea has ceased reporting news from the South altogether since declaring its "two hostile states" doctrine, analysts say there is little incentive to inform its domestic public about the incident as it did before.
It also appears that North Korea factored in concerns that escalating tensions along the Military Demarcation Line could disrupt its so-called border fortification efforts.
[Hong Min / Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification: "Basically, underlying this seems to be an intention to prevent construction delays caused by tensions and avoid disruptions to their planned border project...."]
While tensions were somewhat eased through inter-Korean talks in 2015, North Korea currently maintains its stance of refusing to sit down face-to-face with the South.
(Video by Lee Seung-yeol)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.