Statement for Press Conference

(21 August 2015)

I have requested to have this conference in order to provide the factual truth of the
recent developments taking place on the Korean peninsula.
--- On 4 August 2015, "mine explosion" of an unknown cause occurred in the vicinity
of the south Korean military post in the southern portion of the demilitarized zone of the
Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
The name of the area is Bangmok-ri, Kunnae-myon, Phaju City, Kyonggi Province of
south Korea.
Just right after the occurrence of explosion, the south Korean military announced that
plastic anti-personnel mine M-14, which was laid in the vicinity of the military post in the
southern portion of the demilitarized zone, had gone off due to strong torrential rain.
However, on 10 August, spokesman of south Korean Defense Ministry appeared at a
press conference and asserted that the "mine explosion" occurred because of the reason
that the "north illegally crossed the MDL and deliberately laid wooden box mine".
South Korea cited as one evidence that in wooden box mine, there is "strong smells of
resin" and therefore, "the wooden box mine was recently laid by the north".
It is absolutely false logics. Since the mine was exploded, if there is any smell, there
would be only a smell of gunpowder.
And there is another no surprise mistake that at first, south Korea said it is plastic antipersonal mine and then after a few days, it said it is wooden box mine.
The south Korea also insisted that three "fresh springs found in the mine after
explosion are also from the north."
It never stands to reason to argue that the springs of the mine strongly exploded are
fresh.
In the demilitarized zone of the MDL, there are many instances of mines being
exploded due to natural force such as torrential rain or fire, and there are various kinds of
mines brought into from different countries.
So-called "mine explosion" is provocative pre-fabrication plot conceived in advance by
south Korea for the sake of pursuing another purpose.

It was clearly evidenced by the fact that soon after the occurrence of "mine explosion",
south Korea abruptly announced to resume psychological warfare broadcasting against
the DPRK.
It is a bad habit of the south Korea to groundlessly link whatever events occur in south
Korea with the DPRK.
They seek sinister purposes whenever they orchestrate ridiculous plots.
By taking advantage of this case, the south Korea and the U.S. heightened the intensity
of Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises which started from 17 August, by
introducing strategic bomber B-2A and stealth fighter F-22A into south Korea.
-- Again on 20 August, south Korean military made another untolerable provocation
against the DPRK.
The south Korean military fired 36 shells at the civil police posts of the Korean
People's Army under the groundless pretext that the KPA fired one shell at the southern
side.
Gravity of the issue is that the south Korean military did not hesitate to launch such
military provocative action without trying to confirm where a shell allegedly fired from
the north came from, where it fell in its side, whether it is a gun shell or a bullet or a
rocket or what.
As is shown above, the south Korea resumed the broadcasting for anti-DPRK
psychological warfare in all areas of the front of the MDL under the pretext of a doubtful
mine explosion and the broadcasting goes on day and night.
In this regard, the General Staff of the Korean People's Army sent an ultimatum at
17:00 o'clock on 20 August to the south Korean military that a strong military counteraction would be launched unless it stops the anti-DPRK broadcasting for psychological
warfare and removes all broadcasting means within 48 hours.
Nevertheless thereafter, the south Korean military invented a case of "shell fired by the
north" and, under that pretext, fired dozens of shells on the DPRK's territory without any
scientific grounds.
Now, the situation on the Korean peninsula inches close to the brink of a war due to the
continued anti-DPRK political and military provocations by the U.S. and the south
Korean military forces.

Psychological warfare against the DPRK is, in essence, an open act of war against it
and vicious political and military provocations designed to destroy the ideas and system
and all domains of the life of the DPRK and its people.
Under the prevailing grave situation, an emergency enlarged meeting of the Central
Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was convened at night on 20
August.
The meeting was presided over by Marshal Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the WPK
and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK.
At the emergency enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the WPK,
Marshal Kim Jong Un issued an order of the supreme commander of the Korean People's
Army that the frontline large combined units of the KPA should enter a wartime state to
be fully battle-ready and the area along the front be put in a semi-war state from 17:00 on
Friday, 21 August.
On orders of Supreme Commander Marshal Kim Jong Un, all the KPA frontline large
combined units immediately entered into a wartime state at once, fully armed to launch
any surprise operations and finished their preparations for action.
The enemy's provocation bases and anti-DPRK propaganda bases and means for
psychological war are within the sight of the KPA's multiple rocket launchers and tactical
and strategic rocket forces.
The grave situations now on the Korean peninsula have been created by south Korea at
the start of the south Korean military on the basis of prefabricated provocation plots.
Large-scale military exercise so-called Ulji Freedom Guardian involving tens of
thousands of U.S. and south Korean military is going in south Korea with an open
purpose to "eliminate the headquarters" of the DPRK and "occupy Pyongyang".
If south Korean does not respond to our ultimatum, our military counteraction will be
inevitable and that counteraction will be very strong.