President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday visited soldiers wounded in the Demilitarized Zone land mine explosions, pledging support for their recovery and continued military service.
Lee visited the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, where three injured soldiers are receiving treatment, according to the presidential office in Seoul.
Lee first visited the soldiers in their hospital rooms, offering words of comfort and urging them to focus on their recovery, presidential spokesperson Kim Sung-wan said in a written briefing.
The wounded soldiers expressed gratitude to their fellow service members, saying the operations team had worked as one and helped them survive. They also said they wanted to remain in the military after recovering and continue serving the country in whatever capacity they could, according to Kim.
Lee then met with the soldiers’ families and listened to the difficulties they have faced since the explosions.
He pledged sufficient support not only for the soldiers’ treatment and rehabilitation but also to help them continue their military service, assuring the wounded troops and their families that they would be properly cared for, according to Kim.
Lee also asked officials whether service members injured during military operations receive adequate compensation.
“If injured service members are not given sufficient recognition and support, that is directly tied to the morale of the military, so make sure this is taken care of,” Lee said.
Lee also instructed officials to review specific support measures and inform the families of the outcome.
The families, meanwhile, told Lee that they were struggling with people using the wounded soldiers to stir up controversy and spread conspiracy theories, and asked him to help set the record straight, according to Kim.
The visit took place without any photography, reflecting concerns from the soldiers’ families that published images could cause emotional distress to their young children, Kim explained.
The three Army personnel were injured in two explosions during a route clearance operation south of the Military Demarcation Line in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 21.
The South Korean military has so far concluded that the explosions were caused by North Korean mines laid as part of Pyongyang’s border fortification efforts, including minefields across the DMZ.
Lee’s hospital visit came amid an escalating exchange between Seoul and Pyongyang over responsibility for the explosions.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, earlier Wednesday rejected Seoul’s assessment as “groundless.” She warned of consequences should South Korea take countermeasures on the assumption that the North was responsible.
Following Kim’s statement, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a statement, condemning North Korea’s border fortification activities as a violation of the armistice agreement and demanding an apology and “responsible measures” over the incident.
At a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Lee ordered the military to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the incident, saying the government would take necessary measures against North Korea based on the investigation's findings.
dagyumji@heraldcorp.com
