Unification minister says North Korea landmine blast must not derail peace efforts

Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young said Wednesday that a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone attributed to North Korea "must not become a pretext for disparaging or distorting our efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula," cutting short his European trip to return home early.

Jeong posted the remarks on Facebook while departing Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Wednesday (local time), where he had been on an official visit, calling for a thorough investigation and a measured response.

"A full investigation to establish the facts, followed by appropriate action based on its findings, will be necessary," Jeong wrote. "But rather than engaging in wasteful political squabbling, we must reflect deeply on why such tragic incidents keep recurring and seek fundamental solutions."

He also urged political circles to exercise restraint and work toward constructive solutions. "Any responsible politician must calmly put their heads together to identify the root of the problem and find answers," Jeong said.

Invoking Northern Ireland's history of overcoming conflict, Jeong reaffirmed his commitment to establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. "Standing on the soil of Northern Ireland, which turned the tragedies of the past into the hopes of today, I renew my resolve to end the long war on the Korean Peninsula and build a permanent peace," he wrote. "That is the only path — and the fastest one — by which our young people can stop being sacrificed and march boldly across the DMZ toward the continent."

Jeong had originally been scheduled to return Monday after an eight-day, six-night itinerary that began with his visit to Northern Ireland on Tuesday, followed by a guest lecture in Dublin, Ireland, and a trip to Germany to represent the government at the 36th anniversary of German reunification. He canceled the remaining schedule and decided to return early after military authorities announced that the DMZ explosion had been caused by a North Korean-planted landmine, and Kim Yo-jong, director of the Korean Workers' Party's General Affairs Department, issued a statement dismissing the incident as a "self-directed farce," sharply escalating tensions between the two Koreas.