On October 7, during a National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Unification, lawmakers engaged in a heated debate over the government's response to landmines planted by North Korea in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the fortification of the border under the 'hostile two-state theory.' While both ruling and opposition parties agreed on holding North Korea accountable, they expressed differing views on additional sanctions and de-escalation strategies. The issue of referring to defectors as 'North Korean residents' also sparked sharp exchanges, including pointed remarks about Minister Jeong Dong-young.
During the audit held at the North-South Dialogue Headquarters in Jongno, Seoul, Park Chung-kwon, a member of the ruling People Power Party, asked Minister Jeong if he agreed with President Lee Jae-myung's characterization of the landmine explosion as an 'accidental incident.' Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon criticized the notion, questioning how landmines placed by North Korean forces could be considered accidental.
Minister Jeong responded that he did not believe the incident could be definitively classified as a deliberate attack, emphasizing that the government is demanding an apology from North Korea. He countered the opposition's calls for a strong response by stating that 'hostility and hatred have led to this situation,' and resolving these issues is fundamental to finding a solution.
A debate also arose regarding the military's plan to directly remove North Korean landmines. Park criticized the idea of deploying South Korean soldiers for mine removal as 'foolish,' to which Minister Jeong replied that it was not foolish but rather a necessary action, stressing that ensuring safety is paramount.
On the other hand, Jeong Cheong-rae of the Democratic Party emphasized the need for a strong response to North Korea's provocations while also advocating for efforts to foster reconciliation and peace between the two Koreas. Fellow party member Hong Gi-won urged caution, questioning whether resuming loudspeaker broadcasts or military demonstrations would effectively prevent future landmine incidents.
The issue of independent sanctions against North Korea's illegal cyber activities also emerged as a topic of discussion during the audit. Minister Jeong stated that the connection between cyber sanctions and the response to landmine explosions is 'weak,' asserting that cyber sanctions are not appropriate for addressing the landmine incident. Lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo pointed out the seriousness of North Korea's cyber hacking and stressed that it should not be overlooked.
Concerns were raised about North Korea's fortification of the border through the installation of barbed wire and walls along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and the planting of landmines. Lawmaker Kim Geon from the People Power Party warned that if fortification continues, the 2-kilometer buffer zone on the North Korean side would disappear, leaving only the buffer zone on the South Korean side, undermining the armistice agreement.
Minister Jeong explained that the government has consistently raised issues regarding North Korea's construction of barbed wire, tactical roads, and landmine planting, but noted that the United Nations Command has regarded these actions as defensive. He added that the UN Command had previously adopted a somewhat complacent attitude toward these incidents.
He further stated that the UN Command has classified the recent landmine explosion as a violation of the armistice agreement and that the government will continue close consultations with the UN Command to rectify the situation where the armistice agreement is being disregarded.
Debate also ensued over Minister Jeong's comments suggesting that the issue of reaffirming the MDL could be addressed in future North Korea-U.S. dialogue. He remarked that the U.S. likely does not want the landmine explosion to become an obstacle to a North Korea-U.S. summit, indicating that if such a summit occurs, discussions on reaffirming the MDL could take place.
In response, Han Dong-hoon questioned whether the MDL is a matter solely between South and North Korea, arguing that it should not be adjusted without South Korea's involvement. He challenged the idea of the U.S. and North Korea negotiating the coordinates of the MDL without South Korea's participation.
Minister Jeong acknowledged that a trilateral approach involving South Korea, North Korea, and the UN Command would be ideal but noted the practical difficulties of having North and South Korea meet soon to confirm the coordinates. He explained that if it becomes necessary to first restore and confirm the markers indicating the MDL with North Korea, it would contribute to peace and stability.
Lawmaker Kwon Young-se proposed sending a letter condemning North Korea to the UN Security Council. Minister Jeong responded that while the effectiveness of such a move should be considered, it is certainly a proposal worth discussing.
Meanwhile, an emotional clash erupted in the morning session over the term 'North Korean residents.' Lawmaker Park Chung-kwon, a defector, expressed feeling insulted by the use of a term that the individuals themselves do not agree with, threatening to refer to Minister Jeong as 'North Korea's spokesperson' or 'Minister Jeong Dong-young of North Korea' if he did not apologize and correct the terminology.
In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Gi-heon argued that calling the minister a spokesperson for the North Korean regime simply because of policy disagreements is a political attack. As protests from ruling party lawmakers continued, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Song Seok-jun, intervened, requesting that the issue of terminology be addressed during questioning time rather than as a procedural matter.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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