"Landmine Explosion Was Deemed North Korean 'Provocation' From Start to Finish"

[Anchor]

During a parliamentary audit today (October 8), the Joint Chiefs of Staff made it clear that the landmine explosion incident was "from start to finish, a provocation by North Korea." The commander who ordered the so-called "unloaded rifle guard duty" also appeared in person at the audit to offer an explanation, but could not avoid fierce criticism from lawmakers.

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong reports.

[Reporter]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff reaffirmed that the landmine explosion incident was a "clear provocation" by North Korea.

[Kwon Dae-won / Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: We judged it to be a provocation from start to finish, and no one at the Joint Chiefs of Staff judged that it was not a provocation.]

It was also made clear that the term "provocation" can encompass "deliberateness" and "intent."

[Cheon Ha-ram / Reform Party Lawmaker: Doesn't the term "provocation" to some extent include concepts of deliberateness or intent?]

[Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: It can be viewed that way as well.]

However, he expressed skepticism toward resuming anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts, which has been raised by the conservative opposition party as one of the countermeasures.

[Kim Sung-hoi / Democratic Party Lawmaker: When the anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts were conducted, did North Korea halt its so-called efforts to neutralize the MDL?]

[Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Looking at past cases, I judge that the effect would be limited.]

At today's parliamentary audit, former Army 1st Corps Commander Han Ki-sung, the figure behind the order for the so-called "unloaded rifle guard duty," appeared as a witness and gave an explanation in person for the first time.

He stated that the expression "unloaded rifle guard duty" itself was inappropriate and that weapons were not without ammunition.

[Han Ki-sung / Former Army 1st Corps Commander: There was ammunition in the ammo can attached to the firearm, and it was a matter of the positioning of the first round. I considered that having an ammo can containing rounds coupled to the weapon was equivalent to loading rounds, and...]

He added, "I judged that there was no issue with readiness posture," but opposition lawmakers sharply criticized the measure, saying it was an action that could endanger the lives of service members.

[Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Lawmaker: I served in the military longer than you did. Isn't being immediately prepared so that my subordinates don't get harmed the fundamental duty of the military?]

[Seong Il-jong / People Power Party Lawmaker: I also served as a guard post commander. Under circumstances where we don't know how the enemy might come at night, not having rounds loaded and now making such excuses as General Han is doing is something the public cannot accept.]

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Young-seung also stated, "Because there was a problem, the guidelines have currently been revised so that all frontline units maintain loaded weapons."

(Camera: Kim Hyun-sang, Video Editing: Kim Jin-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.