Cheong Wa Dae: "‘Unfortunate accident’ was an expression to console injured service members—not a free pass for North Korea"

[Financial News] Cheong Wa Dae explained on the 2nd, after criticism emerged that President Lee Jae-myung had failed to hold North Korea responsible in referring to the incident as an "unfortunate accident," that the expression was "used in the context of consoling the injured service members and their families."
Speaking on Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) radio that day about President Lee's Armed Forces Day address, Seong Gi-hong said, "The expression ‘unfortunate accident’ was used in the context of consoling the service members who were seriously injured in the accident and encouraging their families."
Seong said, "The president believes that those who have made special sacrifices for the country should receive special compensation." He explained, "During his visit to the hospital the day before yesterday to personally pay his respects, the president made remarks in that context, and the same message appeared in his Armed Forces Day address yesterday."
He made clear that this did not mean avoiding responsibility for North Korea or giving it a free pass. Seong said, "The military and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) are currently in the process of determining the clear cause of this landmine accident, and they have stated that they will clearly establish the truth of the incident."
He added, "Once the specific results of the accident are reported, our position remains unchanged: we will take the necessary measures firmly, based on the findings of a thorough investigation." When the host asked, "Are you saying this is not intended to give North Korea a free pass?" Seong replied, "That's right," adding, "We are reviewing the necessary measures."
Earlier, at the ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day at Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province on the 1st, President Lee said, "Even now, my heart aches when I think of our service members who were injured in an unfortunate accident in the DMZ recently."
At a State Council of South Korea meeting on the 29th of last month, President Lee had also said, "Based on close cooperation with the United Nations Command (UNC), the military authorities must transparently establish the truth of the incident through a swift and thorough investigation," adding, "We will take the necessary measures based on those findings."
[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter