{
  "id": 10478370,
  "title": "Seoul says North Korean mines 'highly suspected' as cause of DMZ blast",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/seoul-says-north-korean-mines-highly-suspected-as-cause-of-dmz-blast-10478370",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T15:24:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1543378/seoul-says-north-korean-mines-highly-suspected-cause-dmz-blast"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(URGENT) Foreign ministry calls in Ukrainian envoy as Kyiv reveals transfer of N. Korean POWs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/urgent-foreign-ministry-calls-in-ukrainian-envoy-as-kyiv-reveals",
        "published": "2026-09-28T10:05:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "Ukraine’s disclosure of secret North Korean POW transfer sparks South Korea’s demand for an apology",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/ukraines-disclosure-of-secret-north-korean-pow-transfer-sparks-south",
        "published": "2026-09-28T11:08:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "South Korea says border blasts that injured 3 officers was likely caused by North Korean mines",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/south-korea-says-border-blasts-that-injured-3-officers-was-likely",
        "published": "2026-09-28T11:46:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Why South Korea is demanding an apology from Ukraine over North Korean PoWs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/why-south-korea-is-demanding-an-apology-from-ukraine-over-north",
        "published": "2026-09-28T12:09:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "South Korean military: 'Highly likely' North Korean mine injured soldiers in DMZ",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/south-korean-military-highly-likely-north-korean-mine-injured",
        "published": "2026-09-28T12:50:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily NK",
        "title": "Chinese brokers openly advertise North Korean workers on WeChat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/chinese-brokers-openly-advertise-north-korean-workers-on-wechat",
        "published": "2026-09-28T13:42:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Seoul says North Korean mines 'highly suspected' as cause of DMZ blast",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/seoul-says-north-korean-mines-highly-suspected-as-cause-of-dmz-blast",
        "published": "2026-09-28T14:26:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Seoul says North Korea will be held responsible for landmine explosions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/seoul-says-north-korea-will-be-held-responsible-for-landmine",
        "published": "2026-09-28T14:54:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Seoul summons Ukraine envoy over North Korean prisoner-of-war row",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/seoul-summons-ukraine-envoy-over-north-korean-prisoner-of-war-row",
        "published": "2026-09-28T14:57:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Seoul says North Korean mines ‘highly suspected’ as cause of DMZ blast",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/seoul-says-north-korean-mines-highly-suspected-as-cause-of-dmz-blast-10474474",
        "published": "2026-09-28T15:19:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}