"North Korea Flustered by Our Response"… "Is Landmine Removal a Resolute Response?"

[Anchor]

Regarding the landmine explosion incident, North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement only late yesterday (October 6) afternoon, a day after our military announced the final results of its investigation. In response, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul assessed that "North Korea was flustered by our response." However, the opposition party criticized the government, asking, "Is landmine removal a resolute response when hundreds of North Korean landmines remain buried south of the Military Demarcation Line?"

Defense reporter Kim Taehun reports.

[Reporter]

Two days ago, two weeks after the landmine explosion incident on the western front occurred, our military announced the final investigation finding that the mine was "laid by the North Korean military," and a day later, yesterday, North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated its position of taking a "strong response."

At today's parliamentary audit, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul commented as follows:

[Kang Shin-chul / Minister of National Defense: Regarding the fact that they released a statement after about a day had passed, I assess that they must have been quite flustered by our response, and...]

About a year ago, on September 23 last year, our military estimated via satellite and other assets that the areas where this incident occurred were "areas where the North Korean military laid landmines." Minister Kang stated that across the entire area south of the Military Demarcation Line, hundreds of North Korean landmines are believed to be buried.

Democratic Party lawmakers sharpened their criticism, pointing out that North Korea's "border fortification project" began in 2024, yet the Yoon Suk Yeol administration at the time took no action.

People Power Party lawmakers countered that North Korean troops did not come south of the Military Demarcation Line in 2024, and questioned our military's "landmine clearing operation," asking, "Can this truly be considered a resolute measure?"

[Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Lawmaker: A resolute response? Is this a resolute response? Do you truly believe that, Minister?]

[Kang Shin-chul / Minister of National Defense: Yes, I do.]

The government's handling also came under intense scrutiny at the parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Unification.

[Han Dong-hoon / Independent Lawmaker: What is the reason you cannot describe it as an attack?]

[Chung Dong-young / Minister of Unification: My position is that the root problem must be eliminated.]

[Park Chung-kwon / People Power Party Lawmaker: Do you consider such an idiotic response to be an appropriate response?]

[Chung Dong-young / Minister of Unification: Rather than an idiotic response, I believe we did what needed to be done.]

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated that regarding whether to enforce cyber sanctions against North Korea, while it is true there is a difference of opinion with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it does not constitute a conflict or friction.

(Camera: Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing: Lee Seung-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.