Seoul:Unification Minister Chung Dong-young emphasized the heightened importance of achieving "fundamental peace" on the Korean Peninsula following a land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) last month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung made his remarks during a parliamentary audit, referring to the September 21 incident where land mines planted by North Korea injured three South Korean soldiers. He stressed the necessity of thorough preparations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The minister reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to peaceful coexistence and dialogue, stating that the incident would not deter efforts to find peaceful solutions to inter-Korean issues. The ministry reiterated its stance in response to military findings that blamed North Korea for the blast, emphasizing a commitment to breaking the cycle of hostility and fostering peace through communication.
Chung highlighted the need to replace the current armistice that ended the Korean War with a stable peace regime, identifying it as a central task for the government. He pledged maximum efforts to facilitate dialogue and build a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, positioning the government as a key player in the peace process.
On practical measures, Chung called for collaboration with the United Nations Command (UNC) to address North Korea's border fortification activities, which Pyongyang's mine-planting violates. The UNC has jurisdiction over the armistice and expressed concerns over these activities potentially undermining the buffer zone meant to prevent accidental clashes.
The North's border fortification efforts began after leader Kim Jong-un declared South Korea a hostile state in late 2023. Kim Yo-jong, his sister, stated that the construction of barriers is a sovereign exercise, unrelated to military objectives. Chung emphasized the need for closer consultation with the UNC to address North Korea's disregard for the Armistice Agreement.