Seoul Says North Korea’s Mines Likely Behind DMZ Explosions

South Korea's military believes North Korean land mines were likely responsible for two explosions that injured three of its soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) last week, according to a briefing on Monday by Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Kwon Dae-won. The blasts occurred on September 21, approximately 10 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) while an 18-member unit was setting up a new search path to investigate suspected North Korean mine-laying activities.

Two soldiers were seriously injured, and one sustained minor injuries, all of whom remain hospitalized. There is no evidence of South Korean forces laying mines in the area, but North Korean mine-laying was found nearby in September 2025, according to Kwon. A preliminary forensic examination found traces of TNT and brown material on the soldiers' equipment, but no metal fragments typical of a South Korean mine.

President Lee Jae Myung called for a swift investigation and said Seoul would take appropriate measures if it is determined that North Korean forces were responsible. The incident is similar to a 2015 land mines blast that injured two South Korean soldiers, leading to intensified tensions between the two neighbors. The military is still determining whether the mine was planted at the site or had been moved from elsewhere, and will consider military and policy options in response.