South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin on October 6 denied allegations that the investigation into a landmine explosion along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) was influenced by North Korea. He also refuted claims of a heated exchange with Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young following his proposal for sanctions against the North.
During a National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee audit, Park stated, "We are taking this matter very seriously." He emphasized the importance of creating a unified government stance, adding, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reviewing various approaches, and we will formulate the government's position through discussions at the National Security Council (NSC)."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that reports suggesting it had proposed independent sanctions against North Korea in response to the DMZ explosion were premature, stating, "This is still in the internal review stage and has not been finalized." The ministry noted that North Korea's illegal cyber activities pose a significant threat to the global digital economy and are a major funding source for its nuclear and missile programs.
Park also addressed rumors of a public disagreement with Jeong over sanctions against North Korea, stating, "There has never been a public disagreement. The NSC meetings are held under strict security protocols," and refrained from further comment.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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