Lee Jae Myung Urges Dialogue Amid DMZ Mine Dispute
President Lee Jae Myung called for restored trust with North Korea while announcing a military modernization plan following landmine explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged North Korea to resume dialogue and restore trust during an address marking the 78th Armed Forces Day in Gyeryongdae. The appeal follows a diplomatic dispute over two landmine explosions on September 21 in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers, one of whom lost a foot.
The South Korean military and the United Nations Command concluded the blasts were caused by North Korean anti-personnel mines placed on the South Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line, calling the act a violation of the Armistice Agreement. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul stated the government would take corresponding measures, including increased surveillance and tactical responses to border crossings.
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected the findings, labeling the investigation a "conspiratorial farce" and accusing Seoul of fabricating evidence. She warned of "immediate and merciless" retaliation and claimed South Korea's 21st Infantry Division has frequently provoked the North.
While pursuing a conciliatory diplomatic path, President Lee simultaneously announced a military modernization agenda. The plan includes building nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s, deploying AI-based command-and-control systems and high-energy laser interceptors, and seeking the transfer of wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea to ensure self-reliant national defense.
