Accra:South Korea’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Jin Young-sung, has accused North Korea of “provocation” following a recent landmine explosion near the inter-Korean border. He has also pledged to review response measures to the incident.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, during a parliamentary audit session, Jin expressed his view that the explosion was a deliberate act by North Korea, especially since it resulted in serious injuries to South Korean soldiers. He explained that he did not realize that the word “provocation” was omitted from the military’s official media briefing.
The explosion, which took place on September 21, injured three South Korean soldiers, with two sustaining serious injuries. Preliminary findings from a joint investigation by the South Korean military and the UN Command indicated that the explosion was caused by resin-based anti-personnel mines deliberately planted by North Korea south of the Military Demarcation Line.
General Jin emphasized the importance of the landmine removal operation conducted at the explosion site, describing it as crucial for demonstrating the military’s resolve to eliminate threats and affirming the operation’s success and necessity.
In response to questions about future countermeasures, Jin stated that the military would continue to review necessary steps without providing specific details. The South Korean military has initiated an operation to remove remaining landmines at the site, marking the first such mission within the inter-Korean buffer zone.
Furthermore, the military has pledged to enhance its readiness to deter further provocations from North Korea. It has vowed to respond firmly to the harm inflicted on its forces, using both physical and non-physical means. In the medium term, plans are in place to strengthen operational capabilities within the Demilitarized Zone, including minimizing surveillance blind spots and upgrading surveillance systems at frontline posts with technology based on artificial intelligence and advanced systems.