'Clear violation of armistice agreement and an act of provocation'

Removal operation carried out; follow-up measures with UN Command to continue

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Young-seung said Thursday that the military has concluded that mines planted by North Korean forces south of the MDL caused the injuries sustained by South Korean soldiers during a DMZ patrol route clearing operation on Sept. 21. [National Assembly Press Photographers' Pool]
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Young-seung said Thursday that the military has concluded that mines planted by North Korean forces south of the MDL caused the injuries sustained by South Korean soldiers during a DMZ patrol route clearing operation on Sept. 21. [National Assembly Press Photographers' Pool]

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Young-seung said Thursday that the military has concluded that mines planted by North Korean forces south of the MDL caused the injuries sustained by South Korean soldiers during a DMZ patrol route clearing operation on Sept. 21. South Korean forces conducted a mine removal operation in the North Korean minefield on Tuesday in response.

Speaking at the opening of the National Assembly Defense Committee's national audit at the Ministry of National Defense, Jin said the military had "made a final determination that the mine explosion was caused by mines planted by North Korean forces south of the MDL," calling it "a clear violation of the armistice agreement and an act of provocation that threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

He said the military "strongly condemns the North Korean regime's illegal and reckless actions" and pledged to "continue working closely with UN Command to take appropriate and effective measures in line with the situation."

Jin added that South Korea would "closely track and monitor related developments based on a firm South Korea-US cooperative posture and respond resolutely to any provocation by the enemy in accordance with established principles and standards." He also extended his wishes for a swift recovery to the injured soldiers.

Jin assessed that North Korea, under its "two hostile states" policy, continues to conduct close-proximity operations along the MDL while advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities in ways that threaten regional peace. He said Pyongyang is also diversifying its provocation tactics through the development of multiple missile types and mixed-launch strategies.

Jin said the military is "concentrating all its capabilities to build a strong self-reliant defense posture, grounded in the firm resolve to protect the nation and its people through our own strength."

To counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, he said the military would continue developing South Korea's three-axis defense system and strengthen joint extended deterrence and response capabilities with the United States across all domains, including space, cyber and electromagnetic operations.

On the transfer of wartime operational control, Jin said the military is "pursuing the transfer while continuously securing core military capabilities to establish a South Korea-led combined defense system on the foundation of the solid South Korea-US alliance." He added that efforts are also underway to build the self-reliant defense capabilities needed to lead the combined defense posture centered on the future combined forces command after the transfer.

In addition, Jin said the military would pursue unit restructuring and force enhancement based on AI and advanced science and technology, and expand combined and joint operational capabilities to address future battlefield conditions and threats from all directions.

Jin said the military regards "public trust as its most precious value" and pledged to "humbly accept the valuable opinions offered through the national audit as commands from the people."


rimsclub@heraldcorp.com