[Anchor]

During the parliamentary audit today (October 8), the Joint Chiefs of Staff made it clear that the landmine explosion incident was "North Korea's provocation from beginning to end." The commander who ordered the so-called "unloaded-gun guard duty" also attended the audit in person 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 was North Korea's "clear provocation."

[Kwon Dae-won / Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: We assessed it as a provocation from beginning to end, and no one at the Joint Chiefs of Staff judged it otherwise.]

They also clarified that the term "provocation" can encompass intent and deliberateness.

[Chun Ha-ram / Lawmaker, Reform Party: Doesn't the term provocation inherently include a certain degree of deliberateness or intent?]

[Jin Yeong-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: It can be seen that way.]

However, the military expressed skepticism regarding the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea, an option raised by the conservative opposition party as a countermeasure.

[Kim Seong-hoi / Lawmaker, Democratic Party of Korea: When loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea were conducted, did North Korea halt its so-called efforts to neutralize the Military Demarcation Line?]

[Jin Yeong-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Looking at past precedents, we assess that the effectiveness 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-gun guard duty," appeared as a witness and offered an explanation in person for the first time.

He stated that the term "unloaded-gun guard duty" itself is inappropriate, arguing that weapons were not without ammunition.

[Han Ki-sung / Former Commander of Army 1st Corps: There was ammunition in the ammo can attached to the firearm, and it was a question of the position of the first round. I believed that having the ammo can attached to the weapon was equivalent to having a round chambered, and...]

He added, "I judged that there was no issue with our readiness posture," but opposition lawmakers strongly rebuked him, saying it was a measure that could put the lives of service members in jeopardy.

[Lim Jong-deuk / Lawmaker, People Power Party: I served in the military longer than you did. Isn't it fundamental to the military to maintain immediate readiness so that our subordinates do not fall victim?]

[Seong Il-jong / Lawmaker, People Power Party: I also served as a GP commander. In a situation where you don't know how the enemy might approach at night, leaving weapons unloaded and then making the excuses General Han is offering now is something the public cannot accept.]

JCS Chairman Jin Yeong-seung also stated, "Because there were issues, the guidelines have now been revised, and all frontline units are maintaining chambered rounds."

Video by Kim Hyeon-sang | Video Editing by Kim Jin-won