Jin Sung-jun: 'Responsibility for the DMZ Landmine Explosion Lies with North Korea'

After the Joint Chiefs of Staff released an interim investigation finding that a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the western front was highly likely caused by a mine planted by the North Korean military, Jin Sung-jun, a Democratic Party lawmaker and chairman of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, said on the 29th that "whether the mine was lost or deliberately planted, responsibility fundamentally lies with North Korea."

Appearing on KBS Radio's "Jeongyeok Sisa" on the 29th, Jin said, "Whether North Korea deliberately buried the mines to injure our soldiers, or whether mines buried elsewhere were swept down by rain and caused the accident, makes a big difference in terms of intent," adding that "the level of our response should be determined comprehensively based on a judgment of intent."

Jin noted that since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un adopted the hostile 'two states' doctrine, fortification work near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) has continued, and that the mine may have been planted as part of that effort.

He pointed out, "There needs to be some caution about immediately comparing this incident to the 2015 wooden-box landmine incident and taking military countermeasures." He explained that in the 2015 incident, North Korea's intent to harm soldiers was clear, as it had planted mines in a communications passage along a military patrol route, prompting military operations such as the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North. However, he said the area of this accident is one where the South Korean military does not conduct search operations, making it difficult to conclude that North Korea planted the mine with the intent to injure troops.

The ruling and opposition parties are set to hold a National Defense Committee plenary session at the National Assembly at 3 p.m. on the 29th to question officials on the suspected landmine explosion.