FM Cho says S. Korea reviewing diplomatic responses to NK mine blast inside DMZ

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun disclosed on Tuesday that the South Korean government is evaluating a range of diplomatic actions in response to recent mine explosions within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The aim is to avoid an unnecessary escalation of tensions. Cho made these comments during a parliamentary review of his ministry, following the Joint Chiefs of Staff's (JCS) conclusion that North Korean land mines buried south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) caused injuries to three South Korean soldiers inside the DMZ on September 21.

The Foreign Minister emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the ministry is contemplating various potential actions and will collaborate with the National Security Council to determine the government's response. The mine blasts took place as South Korean troops were engaged in clearing a path for a joint inspection with the United Nations Command (UNC) to verify allegations that Pyongyang had covertly planted land mines south of the border, contravening the Armistice Agreement that concluded the 1950-53 Korean War. Cho stated that the review encompasses both current and past responses.