South Korea’s Defence chief says DMZ blast ‘clear’ violation of armistice agreement
Seoul, Sep 29 (IANS) South Korea’s Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul said on Tuesday that the September 21 explosion inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), highly likely caused by North Korean land mines, is in “clear” violation of the armistice agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.
Kang made the remarks during a plenary session of the parliamentary defence committee, after the South Korean military announced on Monday that North Korean landmines were “highly likely” the cause of the September 21 blast.
“This is a clear violation of the armistice agreement,” Shin said, in response to an opposition lawmaker pointing out the explosion was North Korea’s blatant provocation and a breach of the armistice, Yonhap News Agency reported.
“As responsibility lies on North Korea, we will take corresponding measures, (if the blast is confirmed to have been caused by land mines planted by North Korean forces),” the minister said.
The explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas left three South Korean soldiers injured.
A joint survey team, comprising South Korean military officials and the UN Command’s Military Armistice Commission, has conducted an on-site inspection since Sunday to determine the cause of the blast.
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into a mine blast that injured three South Korean soldiers inside the DMZ last week, saying he will take necessary measures in line with the results.
Lee made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, a day after the military announced preliminary findings that the explosion likely had been caused by North Korean mines.
“The military authorities must transparently reveal the truth behind the case by carrying out a swift and thorough investigation in close cooperation with the UN Command (UNC),” he said. “In accordance with that truth, we will take necessary measures.”
–IANS
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