Key facts
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for dialogue and trust restoration with North Korea.
- Seoul's military and the UN Command determined North Korea violated the Korean War armistice agreement with a landmine blast.
- Three South Korean soldiers were injured in the September 21 explosion within the Demilitarized Zone.
- Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, denied Pyongyang's involvement and accused Seoul of fabricating evidence.
- President Lee reaffirmed his commitment to securing the transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. to South Korea.
- South Korea plans to build nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s and upgrade missile defense capabilities.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged North Korea to restore dialogue and reduce military tensions on Thursday, a day after Seoul's military and the UN Command stated that a landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) injured three soldiers and violated the Korean War armistice agreement.
During a ceremony marking Armed Forces Day, Lee expressed hope that North Korea would join efforts to rebuild trust and resume dialogue, which has been long interrupted. His administration aims to pursue practical measures to de-escalate tensions between the two Koreas.
However, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected the findings, accusing Seoul of fabricating the results and warning of retaliation. South Korea's Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul had previously stated that North Korean mines caused the blast as part of border fortification work, and that Seoul would take corresponding measures.
President Lee also reaffirmed his goal of securing the transfer of wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea, emphasizing a push for self-reliant national defense. His broader defense reform agenda includes plans to build nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s and enhance missile defense capabilities with AI-based systems and laser interceptors.