Jin Sung-jun: North Korea's Mine Laying May Be Defensive, Response Must Be Firm

Jin Sung-jun, the chairman of the National Assembly's Defense Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, suggested that North Korea may have laid landmines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for defensive purposes. However, he emphasized that the South Korean military must respond firmly to North Korea's actions.

On CBS Radio's "Park Sung-tae's News Show" on September 30, Jin stated, "During the 2015 Mokham landmine explosion, North Korea used defensive landmines as offensive weapons. This time, the situation may be somewhat different."

He explained, "In the case of the Mokham landmine explosion, North Korea crossed the military demarcation line and planted mines at the entrance used by our troops, targeting our soldiers conducting searches in the DMZ."

Regarding the recent landmine explosion, Jin noted, "North Korea's 'border fortification work' has been ongoing since April 2024, and it appears that the mines were laid as part of that effort."

When asked if the incident could indicate that North Korea is concerned about the South Korean military advancing, he replied, "That could be the case, but it is still too early to conclude. More investigation is needed to understand the situation."

Nonetheless, he stressed the need for a strong response to North Korea's mine-laying activities. "It has been confirmed that North Korea has laid mines in the southern area of the military demarcation line, which constitutes a violation of the armistice agreement and, broadly speaking, a military provocation," he asserted.

He added, "A firm response is necessary, and the intensity, level, and method may vary. If further investigations prove North Korea's intent and targeting, we must escalate our response accordingly."