Foreign Minister Cho Hyun says South Korea is reviewing possible diplomatic measures after land mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone injure three South Korean soldiers. Cho makes the remarks during a parliamentary audit of his ministry, following a conclusion by the Joint Chiefs of Staff that North Korean land mines planted south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) are responsible.
The blasts occur as South Korean troops clear a route for a joint inspection with the U.N. Command to verify suspicions that Pyongyang planted land mines south of the border, in violation of the 1953 Armistice Agreement. Cho says the ministry is taking the incident seriously and, based on investigation findings, is working with the National Security Council to formulate the government’s response. Sources also note that the review includes considering how past government responses were handled and how to avoid unnecessary escalation.
