(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on Oct. 1)

North Korea must be held accountable for a recent mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that occurred on the South Korean side. The Workers' Party of Korea, led by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, denied responsibility for the explosion, dismissing it as an "obvious self-staged farce." She threatened retaliation if South Korean troops respond with live fire.

However, physical evidence, including a recovered North Korean military mine, suggests otherwise. The United Nations Command (UNC) determined that an armistice violation had indeed occurred and would address it through established mechanisms. South Korea demands that North Korea halt the border fortification ordered since 2024, apologize for the incident, and take responsible measures.

These demands are appropriate, as the military demarcation line (MDL) crossing requires UNC authorization under the agreement. Seoul should also insist on a pledge to prevent future incidents and require Pyongyang to restore the area by removing mines planted on the South Korean side. North Korea's repeated violations of the MDL and border fortification activities demand a more firm response from the South Korean military.

This stance aligns with President Lee Jae Myung's recent emphasis on self-reliant defense, which means defending Korea's territorial sovereignty by its own means. The 2015 wooden-box mine attack, which injured two South Korean soldiers, underscores the importance of clearly establishing responsibility this time, preventing the incident from becoming another unresolved border provocation.