South Korean soldiers among three injured in DMZ mine blast

Three individuals, comprising South Korean soldiers, sustained injuries in a suspected mine blast within the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), according to South Korea's Yonhap TV on Monday. The DMZ, a dividing line that has stood since the conclusion of the 1950-53 Korean War with an armistice, is recognized as one of the world's most heavily mined regions.

During an operation involving the 25th Infantry Division in the DMZ, a soldier suffered a serious injury, reported a military official, referring to the buffer zone that separates the two Koreas. Yonhap TV stated that three soldiers were injured in the incident, subsequently taken to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.

The source of the mine remains undetermined, with Yonhap TV noting that it is unclear whether the mine was planted by North Korean forces or originated from the South Korean military. According to military data cited by Yonhap, approximately 800,000 mines are buried in the vicinity, many of which were laid during the Korean War, although ongoing mine-laying has occurred in recent years.

In 2024, following North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's designation of South Korea as his country's principal adversary, Pyongyang's military reportedly spent several months laying mines and constructing anti-tank barriers along the border as part of efforts to permanently seal off the frontier.