UNC deputy commander calls for caution, communication with North Korea after DMZ mine blast

Scott Winter, deputy commander of the United Nations Command and a lieutenant general in the Australian Army, said a recent landmine explosion involving North Korean troops in the Demilitarized Zone shows that "any activity we conduct in the DMZ requires careful, thorough planning and commitment."

Winter made the remarks in a podcast interview with the Royal United Services Institute, a British defense think tank, released Thursday, declining to address the incident directly because "it is currently under investigation."

"From a UNC perspective, my response is that it makes it even more important that we plan carefully, transparently and robustly, and communicate transparently — to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place, and to ensure that if they do occur, they are not seen as escalation or provocation," he said.

Winter stressed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean forces. "That is why it is important that we continue to communicate with the Korean People's Army through the communication channels we have kept open," he said.

He noted that the UNC-KPA channel operates twice daily, adding that when an incident occurs, notification is sent immediately, and if an investigation finds an armistice violation, "we notify in the most firm manner possible."

The RUSI podcast recording was made during Winter's visit to the United Kingdom in mid-October.

Winter's comments reflect the UNC's focus on stable armistice management. However, some observers have questioned whether the UNC, which bears responsibility for managing the armistice, is taking an overly cautious stance.