N. Korea's Kim vows to bring bilateral ties to 'new strategic level' in letter to Xi

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung vowed on Thursday to persistently pursue practical measures to ease military tensions with North Korea, amid ongoing border conflicts. The remarks came during a ceremony at the military headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, following last week's explosions of North Korean mines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers.

Lee emphasized that the intricate issues in inter-Korean relations must be resolved one by one, stating that "peace and prosperity must be forged with our own hands." He stressed that the surest form of security is one that avoids conflict altogether, necessitating trust-building through actions. Lee called for joint efforts to restore trust and resume dialogue with North Korea, inviting them to walk the path of rebuilding confidence together.

The South Korean military had previously denounced the DMZ explosion as a "blatant violation" of the armistice agreement from the 1950-53 Korean War, demanding an apology and responsible actions from Pyongyang. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul indicated that Seoul would implement corresponding measures if North Korea's involvement in the blast was confirmed. However, North Korea's powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, denied any responsibility for the blast and accused South Korea of fabricating evidence.