Seoul urges “good-versus-good” talks after DMZ landmine blamed on North Korea
Version 2: The Unification Ministry has now responded to the military's finding that North Korean mines south of the Military Demarcation Line caused a DMZ landmine explosion that injured South Korean soldiers, saying it will pursue “good-versus-good” communication and continue efforts to break the cycle of hostility rather than confront the North.
In short
South Korea's Unification Ministry said on Oct. 6 it would pursue a fundamental peace solution through “good-versus-good” communication rather than “strong-versus-strong” confrontation, after the Joint Chiefs of Staff concluded that North Korean mines installed south of the Military Demarcation Line caused a DMZ landmine explosion that injured South Korean soldiers. Two days earlier, President Lee Jae-myung marked the 19th anniversary of the Oct. 4 inter-Korean summit declaration, saying the “vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation” must be broken.
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South Korea's Unification Ministry said on Oct. 6 that it would work to prepare a fundamental peace solution through “good-versus-good” communication rather than “strong-versus-strong” confrontation, Chosun Ilbo reported, after the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the final results of its investigation into a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone. The ministry was responding to the military's finding that the explosion was caused by mines North Korea had installed south of the Military Demarcation Line. [ 3 , 5 ]
Yonhap reported the ministry said it was reviewing necessary measures and would work to prepare a peaceful solution. Newsis reported the ministry said it would continue efforts to break the vicious cycle of hostility and create a virtuous cycle of peace. [ 3 , 4 ]
The military announced the previous day, Oct. 5, that South Korean soldiers had been injured by mines North Korea buried south of the MDL, according to Yonhap's summary. The documents do not give the number of injured soldiers, their condition, or the exact location and date of the explosion. [ 4 ]
Two days earlier, President Lee Jae-myung marked the 19th anniversary of the Oct. 4 inter-Korean summit declaration with a message read on his behalf by Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-joong. Lee said the “vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation” had to be broken to create a “virtuous cycle of peace and prosperity,” and that the government must return to the spirit of the declaration. [ 1 , 2 ]
He described the 2007 declaration as a historic agreement that would convert inter-Korean relations into relations of mutual respect and trust, end military hostility and, beyond the armistice system, build a permanent peace regime together. He said that “unfortunately, as the promises toward peace and prosperity were not kept, hostility and confrontation filled that place,” adding that hostility causes material and human damage, obstructs the economy and has been misused as a justification for threatening democracy. [ 1 , 2 ]
Lee recalled former President Roh Moo-hyun's remark that “what reciprocity can obtain is nothing but the repetition of crises occurring at any time and a confrontational structure,” and pointed to the three-point blueprint he said he had presented in his Aug. 15 address and U.N. General Assembly speech: inclusive, stable and responsible peaceful coexistence. He said the journey to cement peace would not be easy “but it is clear that it is the path we must take,” and asked the public to carry on Roh's conviction. [ 1 , 2 ]
Neither Yonhap nor Maeil Business reported any response from North Korea to the president's remarks, and the documents on the landmine incident give no North Korean comment. No document states that the ministry's statement and the president's message were coordinated. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The ministry's response sets the government's public line on a border incident that injured South Korean soldiers, emphasising communication over confrontation and echoing President Lee's Oct. 4 message on restoring the spirit of the 2007 declaration. The documents record no North Korean response and no new measures toward the North, so the immediate effect is a restatement of policy direction rather than a change on the ground.
Key facts
- On Oct. 6 the Unification Ministry responded to the Joint Chiefs of Staff's final investigation finding that a DMZ landmine explosion was caused by mines North Korea installed south of the Military Demarcation Line. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The ministry said it would work to prepare a fundamental peace solution through “good-versus-good” communication rather than “strong-versus-strong” confrontation, Chosun Ilbo reported. [ 5 ]
- Yonhap reported the ministry said it was reviewing necessary measures and would work to prepare a peaceful solution. [ 4 ]
- Newsis reported the ministry said it would continue efforts to break the vicious cycle of hostility and create a virtuous cycle of peace. [ 3 ]
- The military announced the previous day that South Korean soldiers were injured by mines North Korea buried south of the MDL, according to Yonhap. [ 4 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung marked the 19th anniversary of the Oct. 4 inter-Korean summit declaration with a message read on his behalf by Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-joong. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lee said the “vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation” must be broken to create a “virtuous cycle of peace and prosperity”. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lee cited a three-part blueprint of inclusive, stable and responsible peaceful coexistence, which he said he had presented in his Aug. 15 address and U.N. General Assembly speech. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Unification Ministry responded on Oct. 6 to the military's finding on the DMZ landmine incident involving North Korean mines south of the Military Demarcation Line. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung issued a message marking the 19th anniversary of the Oct. 4 inter-Korean summit declaration, read by Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-joong. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lee said the vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation must be broken to create a virtuous cycle of peace and prosperity. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lee described the Oct. 4 declaration as an agreement to turn inter-Korean relations into relations of mutual respect and trust, end military hostility and build a permanent peace regime beyond the armistice system. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lee cited his three-part blueprint of inclusive, stable and responsible peaceful coexistence. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether North Korea has responded to the president's remarks or to the landmine incident. Neither the Oct. 4 reports nor the Oct. 6 reports on the ministry's statement mention any North Korean reaction.
- The number and condition of the injured South Korean soldiers and the exact date and location of the landmine explosion. Documents 4 and 5 are feed summaries that only state that soldiers were injured by North Korean mines south of the MDL.
- What “necessary measures” the Unification Ministry said it was reviewing. Document 4 is a truncated summary; the specifics of the measures are not given.
- The venue and time of the Oct. 4 commemorative event. Documents 1 and 2 give the date and that the address was read by the vice minister, but no venue or hour.
- The full text of Newsis's report on the ministry's landmine response. The article text carried with document 3 concerns a National Assembly hearing on the Supreme Court, not the landmine story; only the outlet's headline is usable.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes its report on President Lee Jae-myung's Oct. 4 commemorative message. [ 1 ]
- Maeil Business publishes its report on the same message. [ 2 ]
- Newsis publishes its report on the Unification Ministry's response to the North Korean landmine finding. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on the ministry's response. [ 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its report on the ministry's response. [ 5 ]