[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung said that he would pursue the restoration of inter-Korean dialogue with patience despite a landmine explosion attributed to North Korea. The Ministry of Unification (MOU), which has led the government's policy toward North Korea, also decided to steadfastly pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. In a commemorative speech at a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day held at Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province on the 1st, President Lee said, "Although the knot of inter-Korean relations is intricately tangled, we will continue to patiently and steadily untangle it. We hope and urge the North to join us now on the path to restoring trust and resuming the dialogue that has been severed." He also stated, "Our government will consistently continue practical measures to ease military tensions between the two Koreas." The MOU also said in a statement that it would "steadfastly pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula." Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young, who returned early from a trip to Europe, wrote on Facebook, "This must not become an excuse to disparage or distort efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula." Regarding the North Korean landmine explosion, he added, "Rather than turning it into exhausting partisan bickering, we must deeply reflect on why such unfortunate incidents keep recurring and seek fundamental alternatives." The MOU assessed that Kim Yo Jong's remarks describing the landmine explosion as a self-staged incident had provided an opportunity to once again confirm that the wall of distrust between the two Koreas remains high. It added that it would work with relevant ministries to take the necessary measures to prevent unfortunate incidents like the landmine explosion from recurring. It also maintained its longstanding position that creating peace without the need to fight is the most realistic way to protect the lives and safety of the people. The opposition immediately pushed back. Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, wrote on Facebook, "President Lee ultimately could not say a single word to North Korea. He did not even utter the word 'landmine.'" He added, "He glossed over it by calling it an 'unfortunate accident,' something a third party might say." Jang further claimed, "Our armed forces and our people have become hostages to Lee Jae Myung's illegal remittances to North Korea." He also condemned President Lee for proudly discussing the dismantling of the Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCC) and cuts to the military intelligence agency, saying that Lee had failed to warn North Korea and instead merely ingratiated himself by declaring, 'We will not catch spies.' [email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter