Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, urged on September 29 to immediately reinstall loudspeakers aimed at North Korea and resume broadcasts following a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
During a party strategy meeting at the National Assembly, Jung referenced the preliminary findings from the Joint Chiefs of Staff's first joint field investigation announced the previous day, calling for a fundamental strengthening of the military's posture along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the landmine explosion, which occurred on September 21 in the southern DMZ of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, is highly likely to have been caused by a mine planted by North Korean forces. The military plans to conduct further assessments in collaboration with the United Nations Command before releasing final results.
Jung criticized the military's cautious approach, stating, "Despite the certainty that the landmine was planted by North Korea, the final investigation leaves room for doubt about their involvement." He expressed disappointment over the continued policy of appeasement towards North Korea.
He also demanded the complete cancellation of the budget for North Korean aid, questioning, "How long will we continue to support a primary enemy that engages in provocations and threats with taxpayer money?" He called for a declaration to abandon the policy of appeasement towards North Korea in light of the recent incident.
Jung pointed out that during the tenure of former Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek, guidelines were issued to respond to North Korean incursions into the MDL based on situational judgment rather than mechanical responses, which he claimed weakened the military's warning broadcasts and warning shots. He asserted that the lax border posture created by the Lee Jae-myung administration led to this security crisis.
He promised proactive measures from the party, stating, "We will utilize all means, including National Assembly audits, hearings at standing committees, and national investigations, to uncover the truth behind this incident," emphasizing the need to thoroughly examine whether the military has adequately responded to North Korea's incursions and landmine placements.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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