South Korea’s new defense minister Kang Shin-chul said North Korea should halt its efforts to fortify areas along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), adding that Seoul will not be swayed by Pyongyang’s reaction as tensions persist along the inter-Korean border.

Kang made the remarks to reporters at the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday, shortly after taking office as the country’s 52nd defense minister following his confirmation by President Lee Jae Myung.

Asked whether Seoul should respond if a land mine that exploded Mondayis determined to have been planted by North Korea, Kang said Pyongyang “must