Defense chief says mine-removal operation a 'decisive' response against N. Korea

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul declared the mine-clearing operation carried out at the scene of a recent explosion within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to be a decisive response against North Korea, stating it represents the first such mission inside the buffer zone separating the two nations. This assessment came the day following the South Korean military's announcement of the conclusive findings from a joint investigation conducted with the United Nations Command (UNC) into the Sept.

21 mine blast, which resulted in the injury of three South Korean soldiers. The joint probe determined that antipersonnel mines intentionally placed by North Korean forces south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) were responsible for the explosion.

Kang informed reporters at the defense ministry compound that such a mine-clearing operation had never been undertaken in history, labeling it unprecedented. He firmly believed that the operation constituted a decisive response on South Korea's part. The defense chief dismissed claims that the South Korean military's reaction was overly passive and defensive, asserting that necessary measures had been taken by removing the land mines from the DMZ on Monday. He highlighted that their comrades had suffered severe injuries due to the blast.