North Korea warns of a strong response regarding mine-clearing operations

North Korea said on the 6th that if South Korea's military operation to remove landmines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) intrudes even a little into its territory, it will respond immediately and forcefully. In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's Foreign Ministry strongly criticized the South Korean military's related measures and warned that it would respond if there were any actions crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). North Korea took issue with South Korea's announcement of the investigation results and the mineclearing measures, and blamed South Korea for the responsibility. This reaction came immediately after the Joint Chiefs of Staff released the final investigation results on the previous day regarding the North Korean military's landmine explosion and announced that it would carry out mineclearing operations inside the DMZ. The South Korean military says it will continue the relevant work if North Korea does not voluntarily remove the minefields south of the MDL.