'Explosion in Relatively Safe Area'... Weight Given to Possibility of North Korean Landmine

[Anchor]

We continue with newly obtained reporting on the landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It has been confirmed that this explosion occurred in an area classified as relatively safe. Because it detonated in a location where landmines were typically thought unlikely to be present, weight is being given to the possibility that it was a newly planted North Korean mine.

Defense correspondent Kim Tae-hoon reports exclusively.

[Reporter]

The operation conducted yesterday (September 21) by soldiers of the Army's 25th Infantry Division in the western front DMZ was a mission to "clear a patrol route" to identify locations south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) where North Korea was suspected of having planted landmines.

[Jang Doyoung / Chief of Public Affairs, Joint Chiefs of Staff: "As previously mentioned, 'we are consulting with the UN Command regarding the possibility of landmines being planted.' Therefore, yesterday's operation was to foster conditions prior to conducting the UN Command's on-site investigation of that area..."]

The landmine explosion occurred between the 25th Division's existing patrol route and the area suspected of having North Korean landmines.

"Although it is not a route soldiers frequently travel, the landmine exploded right next to a patrol path that had been maintained to some degree until recently," a government official told SBS.

This means the incident occurred in a relatively safe area that had been militarily maintained until recently and was thus considered mine-free.

The official expressed concern, saying, "The area suspected of having North Korean mines may be larger than what South Korean and U.S. military authorities had analyzed."

In other words, soldiers of the 25th Division may have already stepped into a mined area before even reaching what they presumed to be the suspected mine zone.

The landmine that severely injured two soldiers of the 25th Division may have been planted recently by the North Korean military.

[Yoo Yong-won / Lawmaker, People Power Party (CBS Radio 'Park Sung-tae's News Show'): "Because the incident occurred at a point tens of meters closer to the Military Demarcation Line rather than toward our side, the possibility of a North Korean mine is being raised, and from what I have gathered, it is a North Korean wooden box mine."]

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, who took office today, stated regarding the mine explosion, "We will thoroughly identify the cause without ruling out any possibility, and take comprehensive follow-up measures and responses."

(Video by Kim Hyeon-sang | Video Editing by Choi Jin-hwa | Graphics by Yang Ki-tae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.