NK land mines highly likely cause of DMZ blast: military

South Korea's military believes North Korean land mines were the probable cause of a recent explosion within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to their statement on Monday. The military expressed determination to hold North Korea fully responsible and take appropriate actions if the findings are confirmed. They released their preliminary conclusions shortly after re-approaching the site of last Monday's blast, which injured two South Korean soldiers and left another with minor injuries. The blast occurred inside the DMZ that divides North and South Korea.

To gather evidence, a second operation was conducted on Monday to reach the area where the mines exploded. This operation aimed to collect evidence following an earlier unsuccessful attempt due to fading daylight and other operational limitations. Forensic analysis of mine fragments and other evidence found brown residue without metal fragments or shrapnel, suggesting that South Korean mines were unlikely to have caused the blast.

Lieutenant General Kwon Dae-won, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), stated this conclusion during a press briefing. Witnesses reported seeing a brown North Korean resin antipersonnel mine approximately one meter from the explosion site.