(LEAD) S. Korean military, U.N. Command conduct joint survey on DMZ blast site ahead of probe: JCS

South Korea's military, in coordination with the U.N. Command overseeing the DMZ, conducted a joint survey on Saturday at the site of a suspected mine blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The survey aimed to secure an access route ahead of an on-site probe into the incident, which occurred on Monday and severely injured a battalion commander and a staff sergeant of the 25th Infantry Division.

While speculation suggests an illegally planted North Korean land mine may have caused the blast, the South Korean military is facing criticism, particularly from opposition lawmakers accusing it of dragging its feet on the investigation to align with the Lee Jae Myung government's conciliatory policy toward Pyongyang. The JCS emphasized that it is preparing to launch a joint probe with the UNC once the safety of all personnel involved is fully guaranteed, and the survey team evaluated the overall operational environment and checked the status of surveillance and communication.

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