Kang Shin-cheol vows 'appropriate response' if North Korea confirmed behind DMZ mine blast

Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol said Monday that if North Korea is confirmed to be responsible for a suspected mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone, "an appropriate and commensurate response and measures will be necessary," and that he would act accordingly.

Kang made the remarks to reporters after meeting with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok at the National Assembly that morning.

On recent media reports of a North Korean box mine being spotted near the scene, Kang said "there are also statements that it was not a box mine," adding that "there are parts that are difficult to pin down." He pledged to brief the public "as transparently as possible, as soon as things are sorted out, since an investigation is currently underway at the scene."

Asked whether he had personally influenced the military's initial decision to schedule an on-site investigation for Tuesday, Kang said the timing was determined collectively by the United Nations Command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the unit stationed at the scene after assessing the situation. He added that he would ensure an accurate briefing was provided Monday.

Addressing opposition allegations of a delayed response and attempts to downplay or conceal the incident, Kang pushed back. "That is not the case. What could the military possibly conceal?" he said, pledging that the process would be conducted transparently.

"I want to state again clearly that we are acting based on our own assessment — there has been no deliberate delay, no concealment, none of that," he added.