Seoul says North Korean mines 'highly suspected' as cause of DMZ blast
SEOUL: A blast that injured three South Korean military officers inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) last week was likely caused by North Korean landmines, Seoul’s military said Monday.
Seoul's military has determined that three South Korean officers were likely injured by North Korean landmines during a blast near the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) last week, according to preliminary findings from a joint investigation with the United Nations Command. The DMZ, a 248km long and roughly 4km-wide buffer zone, is heavily fortified with landmines despite being officially demilitarised.
The explosion occurred about 10 metres south of the Military Demarcation Line, where recent North Korean mine planting had been observed. The blast involved two exploded mines and one unexploded mine, with the injured officers suffering severe injuries, including the loss of one officer's foot. The investigation found that while the mines used TNT, the characteristics set them apart from domestic landmines, notably the absence of metal fragments.
The blast radius was smaller than South Korean mines. Should the probe conclude North Korea was responsible, Seoul's military would take appropriate measures. The ongoing investigation is assessing whether the North Korean mines were deliberately planted or drifted, and what further actions should be taken based on the final results.
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