(LEAD) 'Fundamental peace' becomes 'more crucial' following DMZ blast: unification minister

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young emphasized on October 7 that the land mine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) last month underscores the urgent need for fundamental peace on the Korean Peninsula. Speaking at a parliamentary audit of the ministry, Chung referred to the September 21 explosion of North Korea-planted land mines that injured three South Korean soldiers.

He stressed the importance of thorough preparation to prevent such tragic incidents from recurring, reiterating the ministry's commitment to peaceful solutions and dialogue, despite the incident. The ministry echoed a similar stance the previous day, vowing to continue efforts to break the cycle of hostility and confrontation and build a virtuous cycle of peace and prosperity through communication.

Chung acknowledged the unstable armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War and called for its replacement with a continuous, stable peace system. He emphasized the government's commitment to facilitating dialogue and serving as a core peacemaker on the Korean issue. Practically, Chung stressed the need for close cooperation with the United Nations Command (UNC) over North Korea's border fortification, noting that the North's actions could neutralize the buffer area meant to prevent accidental clashes.

North Korea began such work after leader Kim Jong-un designated South Korea a hostile state in late 2023, and the North has made no secret of its border fortification efforts.