Unification Ministry Responds to Military’s Final ‘North Korean Mine’ Findings: Pursuing ‘Goodwill-to-Goodwill’ Dialogue, Not ‘Strength vs. Strength’ Confrontation

"Review of Necessary Measures According to Investigation Findings"

The Ministry of Unification announced that, instead of pursuing a “confrontation of strength versus strength,” it will seek a peaceful solution through “goodwill-to-goodwill” dialogue, in response to the military’s final investigation confirming that the landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was caused by North Korean-planted mines.

An official from the ministry said on October 6, "Now that the final investigation results have been announced, we will work closely with the Ministry of National Defense and other relevant agencies to review the necessary measures in accordance with the findings."

The official continued, "We will keep striving to break the vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and instead create a virtuous cycle of peace and prosperity. We are committed to finding a fundamental peaceful solution, not by confrontation of strength versus strength, but through goodwill-to-goodwill communication."

The day before, the Joint Chiefs of Staff had concluded that the explosion that occurred on September 21 on the western front of the DMZ was caused by a North Korean plastic anti-personnel mine, specifically a resin anti-personnel mine, buried south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). During a route-clearing operation at the time, two explosions injured three military officers, two of whom were seriously wounded. The military confirmed that the two explosion sites and the locations of additional discovered mines were located about 10 meters south of the MDL, and demanded an apology from North Korea along with mine removal.

Regarding independent sanctions related to North Korea's illegal cyber activities, a ministry official commented, "It is necessary for the relevant ministries to discuss whether or not measures are needed in connection with the landmine explosion incident."

On the need for inter-Korean military talks to discuss the MDL issue, the official stated, "We share the same position as the Ministry of National Defense." He further stressed, "Last November, we raised an objection regarding the borders, and on the 1st of this month, President Lee Jaemyung urged dialogue and emphasized 'building military trust' on Armed Forces Day. Also, on October 2, Minister Jeong Dong-young reiterated the need for dialogue and communication to finalize the boundaries."

However, when asked if additional measures would be taken given North Korea's rejection of dialogue offers, the official replied, "That does not mean we will move to a situation of strength versus strength." Regarding the remarks by Kim Yo-jong, Director of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s General Affairs Department, he said, "We will not be swayed by North Korea's responses and will continue efforts to resolve mutual distrust between the two Koreas." In her statement on October 2, Kim described Minister Jeong’s proposal for North and South Korea to discuss the MDL as "delusional and not even worth responding to—a one-sided tirade."

Meanwhile, on this day, the Border Area Mayors and Governors’ Association issued a statement opposing the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea. The heads of 10 local governments in the border areas of Gangwon, Gyeonggi, and Incheon stressed the need to consider the potential impact on residents' safety, property rights, and the local economy, and requested that prior consultation with local governments be held before implementing North Korea and security-related policies. Previously, there have been calls for resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North as a proportional response to the recent landmine explosion. On October 2, Minister Jeong also criticized these calls to resume broadcasts, calling them "irresponsible and extremely dangerous."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.