Cheong Wa Dae denies military inspection of mine blast site connected to Lee's UN remarks

Cheong Wa Dae has firmly denied claims that the military's inspection of a mine blast site near the Demilitarized Zone was influenced by President Lee Jae Myung's remarks on sanctions relief for North Korea ahead of the U.N. General Assembly. The opposition People Power Party had accused the government of delaying the inspection due to concerns that Lee's call for sanctions relief might be undermined if North Korea were found responsible for the mine explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers.

However, the military has stated that their decision to inspect the site was based solely on a military judgment and field commanders' suggestions, with no connection to the president's U.N. speech. The Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.N. Command decided on the inspection timing purely from a military perspective, according to a presidential official.

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