Army chief consoles wounded troops, families at national audit

Pledges to build 'strong army trusted by the people'

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha takes an oath at the National Assembly's Defense Committee national audit of the Army at Army Headquarters in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, last year. [Yonhap]
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha takes an oath at the National Assembly's Defense Committee national audit of the Army at Army Headquarters in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, last year. [Yonhap]

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha said Monday he would do everything possible to ensure the treatment and recovery of soldiers wounded by North Korean mines in the Demilitarized Zone.

Speaking at the National Assembly's Defense Committee national audit of the Army at Army Headquarters, Kim extended his condolences to the injured troops and their families. "I convey my heartfelt sympathy to our soldiers and their families who were wounded on Sept. 21 by mines that North Korean forces planted south of the Military Demarcation Line during a DMZ operation," he said.

On Sept. 21, at around 10:51 a.m., South Korean soldiers conducting a new reconnaissance route operation in the western DMZ were wounded in a mine explosion. The troops had been clearing a path to allow a joint on-site investigation with UN Command into an area where terrain changes had raised suspicions of North Korean mine-laying. Two soldiers suffered serious injuries and one sustained minor injuries; all 18 personnel deployed in the operation were evacuated to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff, following a joint investigation with UN Command, concluded on Oct. 5 that the explosion was caused by a plastic anti-personnel mine planted by North Korean forces south of the MDL. GPS measurements confirmed that both the first and second blast sites, as well as additional North Korean mines discovered nearby, were all located south of the MDL.

The investigation found that at least four North Korean mines had been deliberately planted in the area. The military determined the incident constituted a violation of the Armistice Agreement and subsequently conducted an operation to clear the North Korean minefield.

Kim said he was well aware of the weight of public expectations and lawmakers' concerns regarding the Army. "I will do my utmost so that the Army can contribute to achieving self-reliant national defense and emerge as a strong force trusted by the people," he said.


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