Seoul defense chief: North Korea appears “taken aback” by DMZ mine response
In short
South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told a parliamentary audit on October 7 that North Korea appeared “considerably taken aback” by Seoul’s response to the Demilitarized Zone explosion and its mine-clearing operation. He pointed to the North’s Foreign Ministry issuing its statement a day late, after final investigation results were announced. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry had called the incident a “self-staged” act and warned of a strong response to any violation of its territory.
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South Korea’s Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said on October 7 that North Korea appeared “considerably taken aback” by Seoul’s response to the Demilitarized Zone explosion and the military’s mine-clearing operation, speaking at the National Assembly National Defense Committee audit at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kang said the North’s reaction came about a day after the South announced its final investigation results and carried out the mine-clearing operation, whereas previous North Korean positions had been issued straight away. He also said Seoul was paying attention to the fact that the statement came from the Foreign Ministry, according to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 ]
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued the statement the previous afternoon, repeating that the DMZ explosion was a “self-staged act.” The statement also warned that North Korea would respond strongly if its territory were violated “by even 1㎜,” according to Hankook Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo. Yonhap reported that experts had suggested the use of a Foreign Ministry statement, rather than one from Kim Yo-jong, indicated a calibrated level. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
On the border itself, Kang said the military was considering whether warning shots alone were effective against North Korean troops crossing the MDL, adding that those crossing generally wear helmets but carry no rifles and that responses beyond warning shots are weighed under existing principles and regulations. He said suspected North Korean minefields south of the MDL exist in “a few places,” not only in the 25th Division area, and that they must be confirmed jointly with the United Nations Command before further steps. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kang said the area where the explosion occurred had been cleared and that DMZ operations had not been reduced since the incident, with the military working to hold the initiative. In the 21st Division area, he said North Korean guard-post troops patrol to about 10 metres south of the MDL daily, using a cleared stretch as a patrol route. [ 1 , 2 ]
Asked by opposition lawmaker Chun Jun-ho whether the claim that the government has done nothing about North Korea was true, Kang said it was “not true at all.” He also said he did not recall any special measures by the previous Yoon administration in response to North Korea’s border fortification, which Yonhap reported began in April 2024. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The exchange is the latest test of how far inter-Korean friction at the DMZ escalates, and Seoul’s defense chief used a National Assembly audit to signal that responses to border incursions could go beyond warning shots. The documents also show Seoul acknowledging it must confirm suspected North Korean minefields with the United Nations Command, leaving room for further joint action.
Key facts
- Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul made the remarks at the National Assembly National Defense Committee audit held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, on October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kang said North Korea “would have been considerably taken aback by our response,” citing the North’s delay in reacting and the fact that the statement came from the Foreign Ministry. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement the previous afternoon repeating that the DMZ explosion was a “self-staged act.” [ 1 , 2 ]
- The North’s statement warned of a strong response if its territory is violated “by even 1㎜.” [ 1 , 4 ]
- Kang said the North’s statement came about a day after the military announced its final investigation results and carried out its mine-clearing operation, whereas earlier North Korean positions were issued immediately. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kang said suspected North Korean minefields south of the Military Demarcation Line are in “a few” places, not only in the 25th Division area, and must be confirmed jointly with the United Nations Command. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kang said DMZ operations have not been scaled down since the explosion and that the military is working to keep the initiative. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kang rejected as “not true at all” a claim by Rep. Chun Jun-ho that the government has done nothing about North Korea, and said he did not recall special measures by the previous Yoon administration over the North’s border fortification that began in April 2024. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said North Korea appeared “considerably taken aback” by South Korea’s response to the DMZ mine incident and mine-clearing operation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement the previous day calling the incident a “self-staged act” and warning of a strong response to any violation of its territory. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kang said the North’s reaction came about a day after the South’s final investigation announcement and mine-clearing operation, and noted the statement was issued by the Foreign Ministry. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kang said DMZ operations continue without reduction after the explosion and that the military is working to maintain the initiative there. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The exact number and location of suspected North Korean minefields south of the MDL beyond the 25th Division area. Kang answered only “a few places” at the audit, and Yonhap reported the suspected areas are known not to be limited to the 25th Division, without further detail.
- When a joint investigation with the United Nations Command will take place and what measures would follow. Kang said Seoul would conduct a joint investigation with the UNC and then take necessary steps, but gave no timing or specifics.
- Whether North Korea’s warning of a strong response will be followed by action. The documents report the statement and the South Korean assessment of it, but do not indicate any North Korean steps beyond the statement itself.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issues a statement in the afternoon repeating that the DMZ explosion was a “self-staged act” and warning of a strong response to any violation of its territory, a day after the South announces final investigation results and carries out a mine-clearing operation. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports Kang’s remarks at the National Defense Committee audit, including his assessment that North Korea was “considerably taken aback.” [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the audit, adding Kang’s remarks on suspected minefields, the UN Command joint investigation, MDL crossings and his exchange with Rep. Chun Jun-ho. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a summary report on Kang’s assessment of North Korea’s reaction. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a second summary report quoting Kang on the North’s “1㎜” warning statement. [ 4 ]