South Korean troops among three injured in DMZ 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, separating the Korean peninsula since the Korean War's end in 1953, is one of the most heavily mined regions globally.

During an operation involving the 25th Infantry Division in the DMZ buffer zone, a soldier sustained a serious injury. Yonhap TV reported that three soldiers were injured and transported to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital. The origin of the mine remains uncertain, as it could have been planted by North Korean forces or the South Korean military, as reported by Yonhap TV.

Military estimates suggest approximately 800,000 mines are buried in the area, many dating back to the Korean War, although mining activities have persisted 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.