In brief
At a press briefing on October 30, 2026, National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac confirmed Seoul would continue necessary measures in reaction to a mine explosion in the DMZ that injured three South Korean soldiers. He cited immediate actions—demanding an apology, removing the mines, and testing a hypersonic missile—while underscoring a goal of peaceful coexistence. Korean and U.S. officials hope to settle wartime operational control amid ongoing tension with North Korea, which denies responsibility and threatens further provocative actions.
On October 30, 2026, National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac told reporters at Cheong Wa Dae that Seoul would keep taking "necessary measures" in response to the mine blast that wounded three South Korean soldiers in September. He stressed that the government would act on "clear principles." Wi said Seoul had demanded an apology from North Korea, removed the mines where the accident occurred and fired a hypersonic missile to check defensive readiness.
Wi highlighted that the government’s ultimate focus is to create peace that makes fighting unnecessary, pointing to repeated proposals for military talks with the North in order to clarify uncertainties over the Military Demarcation Line. He added that Seoul will press for a tangible outcome on the wartime operational‑control (OPCON) issue during upcoming South Korea‑U.S. defense‑minister talks, expected in December, and a Bilateral Security‑Consultative‑Meeting early next year.
North Korea, for its part, has denied responsibility for the blast. The regime has accused Seoul of escalating tensions by firing warning shots at its troops across the border, and its elite sister Kim Yo‑jong has warned of deploying tactical strike assets along the inter‑Korean border.
These developments follow a month‑long spike in cross‑border tensions that saw Seoul test‑fire a hypersonic missile and North Korea’s ongoing refusal to accept blame for the September incident. The government maintains that its actions are measured, lawful, and guided by the principle of peaceful coexistence.
