North Korea threatens troops clearing mines south of the MDL: “We will respond forcefully if a South Korean boot crosses even 1 mm”

[Financial News] North Korea threatened on the 6th that it would respond forcefully and immediately if the boots of South Korean troops conducting a mine-clearing operation south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) crossed into North Korean territory by even 1 mm.
North Korea also again dismissed as a staged act the South Korean military’s final findings, announced the previous day, on North Korean mines buried south of the MDL. It brazenly turned the accusation around, insisting that the operation was a grave provocation by the South Korean military and an act of violating sovereignty.
Regarding the mine-clearing operation south of the MDL announced by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said, “If you want to remove mines that have nothing to do with us, do so; if you don’t, then don’t. It’s none of our concern.” It nonetheless threatened, “If those boots, those sparks, cross into our territory by even 1 mm, North Korea’s border forces will take immediate and forceful countermeasures.”
It added, “We make clear that even if a similar incident occurs again on South Korean soil in the future, it will not be our responsibility; the responsibility lies entirely with the side that suffers the accident.”
The South Korean military has been removing North Korean mines buried south of the MDL since the 5th.
Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol said that day that the mine-clearing operation carried out by the South Korean military the previous day was “in fact the first of its kind in the history of our DMZ,” adding, “I view it as a resolute response.” He continued, “North Korea bears all responsibility,” and said, “Going forward, our military will respond resolutely to any act that threatens our national security.”


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