Seoul vows propaganda broadcasts to N. Korea over mine blast

“One lost both legs in the first blast, involving two mines”, the newspaper notes, “The other soldier lost one leg in a second explosion as he tried to help his wounded colleague to safety”.

Major General Ku Hong-mo with the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the North for what he called a cowardly and despicable act.

The mines exploded on the morning of August 4 as eight South Korean soldiers were conducting a routine patrol along the border near the city of Paju.

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy also adopted a similar resolution condemning the North’s attack while urging the Defense Ministry to ensure that North Korea will pay the price for its provocation. Gen. Ahn Young-ho. “It is clear that the enemy deliberately planted three mines for the goal of harming our personnel”.

Several factors – including terrain slope, fences and how often the route is patrolled – ruled out the possibility that the mines had drifted from erosion, flooding or shifting soil, the investigation found.

Indeed, the North Korean military has said it will “fire directly to destroy” if loudspeaker broadcasts are resumed in the South. In 2010, then-President Lee Myung-bak announced plans to resume the broadcasts – which had been halted since 2004 – as retaliation for the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan warship. Critics say the measures have also hurt South Korean businessmen who had earlier dealings with North Korea.

It is often described as tastier than its lighter South Korean counterparts, a comparison which rankles in Seoul.

A majority of South Korean companies are interested in doing business in North Korea after the divided peninsula is unified, but most think strained inter-Korean relations may make a united Korea unlikely, a poll showed Monday. “The content will mostly be inexcusable injustices on the part of the North in the land mine operation as well as the [advanced] status of South Korea as a nation”, Kim Min-seok, Defense Ministry spokesman, told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Plenty of coastline, proximity to millions of potential tourists, at the ground-floor for development – North Korea could be a flawless investment spot.

The mine incident comes ahead of next week’s start of U.S.-South Korea summer military exercises.

“The North’s action to break from the shared standard time… runs counter to efforts to foster inter-Korea cooperation and to achieve reunification”, Park said. After being outclassed by South Korea in the opening game, Alain Perrin made some changes and defeated North Korea 2-0.

This incident will likely draw an angry denial from Pyongyang and increase tensions in the region.

A video clip of the mines exploding is expected to further worsen anti-North sentiment among South Koreans and lessen the chance of improving thawed ties soon.