Kang Shin-chul makes first official field visit after taking office

Veterans minister Kwon Oh-eul expresses 'deep regret' on Facebook

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul visits the Army's 25th Infantry Division on Wednesday to encourage troops. [Ministry of National Defense]
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul visits the Army's 25th Infantry Division on Wednesday to encourage troops. [Ministry of National Defense]

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul visited the Army's 25th Infantry Division on the western front Wednesday — his first official field inspection since taking office — to encourage troops at the unit where a suspected land mine exploded in the demilitarized zone and to assess frontline readiness.

"Maintaining unwavering operational discipline and completing the mission is what our people and the comrades lying in hospital beds are hoping to see," Kang said, urging soldiers not to be discouraged and to stay focused on their duties.

He also pledged that "the state will take responsibility and watch over our comrades and their families to the end, so they can concentrate solely on treatment and recovery."

After receiving a briefing on forward operations from an observation post, Kang visited the command-and-control center of a general outpost battalion to review current readiness. He called for establishing firm operational discipline that would allow an immediate response under any circumstances.

He told frontline troops in particular: "If the enemy provokes or intrudes, respond without hesitation and with resolve. Your resolute response is my order."

Meanwhile, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kwon Oh-eul said Wednesday he would spare no effort in honoring and supporting the soldiers wounded in the suspected mine explosion.

"When I think of the young soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the country and their families, my heart is heavy with regret," Kwon wrote in a Facebook post.

"I extend my deepest condolences to the wounded soldiers and their families, and again bow my head in gratitude," he added. "I sincerely hope you recover your health as soon as possible."

Kwon said the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans was operating an integrated support service for wounded soldiers together with the Defense Ministry. He pledged to "look after them even more carefully so that we can care for and take responsibility for soldiers who devoted themselves to the country, to the very end."

The incident occurred Monday morning at around 10:50 a.m. near the MDL in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, under the jurisdiction of the Army's 25th Division, when two suspected land mine explosions left two soldiers — including a search battalion commander — seriously injured.


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