Unification ministry reaffirms peaceful coexistence policy despite DMZ blast

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SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry said Thursday it will continue to pursue peaceful coexistence with North Korea, despite the recent blast caused by North Korean land mines inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The ministry unveiled the stance a day after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, rejected the South Korean military's finding that blamed the North for the blast, arguing that Seoul is "cooking up the groundless results."

"The ministry will steadfastly pursue peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," the ministry said, while vowing to work with other government agencies to take "necessary measures to prevent the repeat of such tragic incidents."

"Ending decadeslong hostility and confrontation and creating a peace where there is no need to fight each other is the most realistic way to protect the lives and safety of our people," the ministry said.

Minister Chung Dong-young curtailed his European work trip that was due to last until Monday and is set to return home later in the day to handle the aftermath of the blast, which wounded three South Korean soldiers.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Wednesday blamed the North for the blast, calling it a "blatant violation" of the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. The South also demanded an apology from Pyongyang.

An official at the ministry told reporters that the minister had been briefed promptly on the developments and decided to return early at this "important time" to manage inter-Korean relations and respond to the situation.

Two mine blast craters (in white circles) are seen at a land mine field inside the Demilitarized Zone after explosions occurred there on Sept. 21, 2026, in this photo released by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sept. 28. The military held a press conference the same day to announce the interim results of a military investigation with the U.N. Command into the explosions that left two South Korean soldiers severely injured and another with minor injuries. North Korean land mines were highly likely the cause of the recent explosion inside the DMZ, the military said, vowing to hold Pyongyang "fully" accountable and take corresponding measures if confirmed. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr (END)

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Unification ministry reaffirms peaceful coexistence policy despite DMZ blast

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首尔，10月1日（韩联社）——韩国统一部周四表示，尽管朝鲜最近在非军事区（DMZ）埋设地雷引发爆炸，但韩国仍将继续寻求与朝鲜和平共处。

在朝鲜领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正驳斥韩国军方将爆炸事件归咎于朝鲜的调查结果，并辩称首尔“捏造了毫无根据的调查结果”的第二天，韩国国防部公布了这一立场。

该部表示，“将坚定不移地追求朝鲜半岛的和平共处”，并誓言与其他政府机构合作，采取“必要措施防止此类悲剧事件再次发生”。

该部表示：“结束长达数十年的敌对和对抗，创造一个无需互相争斗的和平环境，是保护我们人民生命和安全的最现实途径。”

韩国国防部长郑东荣缩短了原定于周一结束的欧洲工作访问行程，将于当天晚些时候返回韩国处理爆炸事件的后续事宜。此次爆炸事件造成三名韩国士兵受伤。

韩国联合参谋本部周三指责朝鲜制造爆炸事件，称其“公然违反”了结束1950-53年朝鲜战争的停战协定。韩国方面还要求平壤道歉。

该部一位官员告诉记者，部长已及时听取了有关事态发展的汇报，并决定在这个“重要时刻”提前返回，以管控朝韩关系并应对局势。

这张由韩国联合参谋本部于9月28日发布的照片​​显示，2026年9月21日，非军事区内一处地雷区发生爆炸，照片中可以看到两个地雷爆炸坑（白色圆圈所示）。当天，韩国军方召开新闻发布会，公布了与联合国军司令部联合开展的关于此次爆炸事件的初步调查结果。爆炸事件造成两名韩国士兵重伤，另一名士兵轻伤。军方表示，朝鲜地雷极有可能是造成此次非军事区内爆炸的原因，并誓言如果得到证实，将追究平壤的“全部”责任，并采取相应措施。（照片禁止出售）（韩联社）

jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr (完)

统一部长因非军事区爆炸事件缩短欧洲之行

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统一部长将于本周起访问爱尔兰、北爱尔兰和德国。

在朝鲜有亲属的韩国人数量已降至不足33000人

统一部计划向平壤医院运送1400多件医疗物资。

统一部长：如果朝鲜先实现无核化，就不可能与朝鲜进行对话。

尽管非军事区发生爆炸，统一部仍重申和平共处政策。