The National Assembly's Defense Committee, led by the Democratic Party, adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's provocation related to a landmine explosion that occurred in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21.
During a full committee meeting held on the morning of October 14, the committee passed a resolution titled 'Resolution Condemning North Korean Mine Provocation in Areas South of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).'
The resolution emphasizes that the incident was caused by North Korea's intentional laying of landmines and considers it a provocation that violates the armistice agreement, threatening the lives and safety of soldiers.
It also states that North Korea bears full responsibility for all subsequent actions related to this provocation and calls for an official apology, punishment of those responsible, and measures to prevent recurrence.
Additionally, the resolution includes demands for a firm response from the government in terms of self-defense, a review of all aid to North Korea, including humanitarian support, verification of facts in close cooperation with the United Nations Command, and a parliamentary investigation into the military's delay in responding.
Before the resolution was adopted, lawmakers from both parties agreed to use the term 'provocation' but decided not to include any mention of halting aid to North Korea during the subcommittee meeting that preceded the full committee session.
However, members of the People Power Party insisted on a parliamentary investigation into the alleged delay in the investigation of the mine provocation, leading to further discussions in the full committee meeting after the subcommittee's resolution was not passed.
Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk criticized the lack of content aimed at understanding why such an incident occurred, stating, 'To say that North Korea is at fault but to end with just condemning the provocation is insufficient,' and added that it would be impossible to obtain an apology and preventive measures from North Korea.
Similarly, fellow party member Seong Il-jong argued that if the National Assembly does not take action to investigate the military, the public will doubt whether a proper response can be made.
In response, Democratic Party lawmakers Park Seon-won and Min Hong-cheol countered that including the military's failure to respond and the delay in investigation in a resolution condemning North Korea's mine provocation is contradictory, and that internal verification should be conducted through other procedures such as the National Assembly's audit.
As disputes continued between the two parties and no agreement was reached, Defense Committee Chairman Jin Seong-jun attempted to proceed with the resolution's adoption, prompting members of the People Power Party to protest and leave the meeting.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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