S. Korean Military and UNC Approach DMZ Landmine Blast Site, Plan Further Investigation

[Anchor]

The South Korean military and the United Nations Command launched an on-site investigation today (September 27) to determine the cause of a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone along the western front. This comes six days after the incident occurred. While the investigation team managed to approach the vicinity of the presumed blast site, they plan to determine the full cause through additional on-site inspections.

Reporter Kim Hye-young reports.

[Reporter]

The South Korean military and the United Nations Command jointly conducted an on-site investigation today regarding the landmine explosion that occurred in the Demilitarized Zone on the western front.

It has been six days since the incident took place on September 21.

The on-site investigation team consisted of about 40 personnel, including South Korean military operational troops, officials from the UN Command Military Armistice Commission, and investigators.

Some of the military officers who were conducting the operation at the time of the incident also joined the investigation.

Operating mine detectors and other equipment from around 9 a.m. today until sunset, the team conducted a detailed mine sweep along maneuver routes in the DMZ and simultaneously worked to secure additional routes.

The team reportedly reached the vicinity of the presumed blast site, but has not yet been able to conduct a full-scale investigation directly at the site of the explosion.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff explained that the operation was concluded due to safety concerns, as the area is an unidentified minefield with high risks and the fatigue of the personnel had intensified.

The South Korean military and the UNC plan to conduct further on-site investigations to determine the circumstances and exact cause of the incident.

A JCS official stated that they plan to "explain the facts confirmed during the investigation objectively and transparently."

On the morning of September 21, 18 personnel, including members of the Army's 25th Division reconnaissance unit and jurisdictional engineers, were deployed on an operation to clear a new reconnaissance path in the DMZ.

During that process, landmines detonated consecutively, injuring three officers, including the reconnaissance battalion commander.

Yesterday, the military and the UNC deployed about 20 personnel to conduct a preliminary inspection to check safety conditions and secure the necessary routes ahead of today's on-site investigation.

(Video by Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing by Choi Jin-hwa | Graphics by Park Cheon-woong | Footage courtesy of Joint Chiefs of Staff)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.