{
  "id": 10478614,
  "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-10478614",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T15:19:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/28/seoul-says-north-korean-mines-highly-suspected-as-cause-of-dmz-blast"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul's military has concluded that North Korean landmines are highly suspected to have caused a blast that injured three South Korean officers within the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) last week. The DMZ, a 248km long and 4km wide buffer zone dividing the Korean Peninsula since 1953, remains heavily fortified and littered with landmines despite being officially demilitarised. The preliminary findings of a joint investigation with the UN Command suggested that recently planted mines were involved in the explosion, which occurred about 10 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line. The explosion resulted in severe injuries for the three service members, with one losing a foot. The landmines used in the blast displayed characteristics different from domestic ones, such as the absence of metal fragments, but had a smaller blast radius. Should the investigation conclude that North Korea was responsible, Seoul's military would bear full responsibility and take appropriate measures.",
  "summary": "South Korea and the UN Command have inspected the area inside the Demilitarised Zone where a blast injured three South Korean military officers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-28T15:24:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}