[김종석의 왜]“北 지뢰 매설”…軍은 뭐했나 / 채널A / 뉴스A CITY LIVE

[Kim Jong-seok’s Why] “North Korea Planted Landmines”… What Was the Military Doing? I will now sit down and report on this. This is the definitive topic for today’s "Kim Jong-seok’s Why." It appears the landmines that injured three of our soldiers were planted by North Korea. It is reported that military authorities reached this initial conclusion around last weekend. [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "I need to ask the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff first. When and from whom did you receive the initial report? Chairman?" [Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] "I was in my office and received a situation report from the Chief of Operations." [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "Can you disclose that initial report?" [Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] "Uh, initially, I received a verbal report, in the situation room." [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "There should be a report, the initial report." [Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] "Yes, there is likely progress." [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "There was a mention of presumed North Korean landmines in that report, wasn't there?" [Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] "Uh, I have never received such a report." [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "You didn't receive the initial report?" [Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] "Yes, that is correct." [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "Then you are saying it wasn't there?" [Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] "Yes, I..." [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "Are you saying that wasn't in the initial report?" [Jin Young-seung / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] "Yes, when I received the report, regarding the situation..." [Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Member] "Understood." "I will check that later." Regarding the question of whether the response was delayed, it is known that the UN Command maintained the position that a swift on-site investigation was necessary immediately after the incident occurred on the 21st. However, it is reported that our military proposed an investigation on the 29th, taking safety issues into comprehensive consideration, and the UN Command agreed to this. That is how the on-site investigation was expedited. And also. With the discovery of a total of four landmines—including the two that exploded last Monday, one mentioned in eyewitness accounts at the time, and an additional mine today—the possibility that the North Korean military intentionally planted mines in the area has increased. That place was truly a minefield. North Korea embarked on fortifying its border in 2024, putting forward the "Theory of Two Hostile States." The Military Demarcation Line lies below North Korea's barbed wire fence. The point where the landmine exploded is just over 10 meters below that. Then, the indication that North Korea crossed the Military Demarcation Line to plant the mines... already "Isn't it true that you detected it but essentially did nothing? What on earth was our military doing?" [Reporter] "You are saying that the military already suspected last September that North Korean troops had crossed south of the MDL and planted landmines, and confirmed this via satellite, but you took no action until this year when you went to investigate the site in cooperation with the UN Command?" [Jang Do-young / Chief of Public Affairs, JCS] "We consulted with the UN Command regarding this and were planning to go to the site to verify the facts. This explosion occurred during the course of that operation. I would like to state that we have been continuously consulting with the UN Command." [Reporter] "So, you were already aware of the facts last September, but what were you doing for the past year before you went to investigate the site recently?" [Jang Do-young / Chief of Public Affairs, JCS] "Ah..." "We were continuously consulting with the UN Command to verify that accurately." [Reporter] "You have already detected traces of landmines via satellite. What kind of consultations were you continuing to have before you went to the site for an investigation, which took a year? Shouldn't our military have requested the UN Command to quickly go to the site for an investigation and respond, saying that the situation is urgent?" [Jang Do-young / Chief of Public Affairs, Joint Chiefs of Staff] "So, while we were in the process of proceeding through consultations with the UN Command, the situation occurred during that operation." However, the ruling party brings up the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. [Kim Seong-hoe / Member of the Democratic Party of Korea] "Didn't the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, back then, fail to judge whether to talk or fight North Korea when they were attempting national fortification work, bringing in thousands of troops to carry out...