Explosion During DMZ Search Operation Leaves Army Officer Severely Injured... "Possible North Korean Landmine"

An explosion, suspected to have been caused by a landmine, occurred this morning (September 21) during a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) search operation at a frontline unit of the Army's 25th Infantry Division, which is responsible for the western front.

An official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated, "Three of our military officers performing an operation at a point south of the Military Demarcation Line in the western front DMZ were injured by an unidentified explosion."

The official added, "Two of the injured officers were urgently evacuated via emergency helicopter to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and are currently receiving treatment," and explained, "We plan to evacuate the other service members who took part in the operation, including one officer whose injuries are relatively minor, to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital for detailed examinations and health checks."

Military authorities announced that they plan to investigate the cause of the unidentified explosion.

Some raise the possibility that the accident was caused by a landmine explosion based on the circumstances.

However, it has not yet been confirmed whether a landmine planted by the North Korean military exploded or if the accident was caused by our military's own landmine.

Several possibilities are being raised, including the explosion of an unidentified landmine during a DMZ search route clearance operation or the explosion of a landmine washed down from North Korean territory due to heavy rain.

Following its declaration of "two hostile states," North Korea has been carrying out "border fortification" work, such as laying tactical roads and planting landmines near the Military Demarcation Line.

Therefore, the possibility that a landmine installed by North Korea exploded is also being raised.

In particular, due to discrepancies between the South and the North regarding the baseline of the Military Demarcation Line, there are circumstances suggesting that North Korea may have crossed the demarcation line to conduct landmine-laying operations even in southern areas.

Previously, the JCS stated that it had identified terrain changes in certain southern areas of the DMZ and was discussing with the United Nations Command the possibility that North Korean troops had planted landmines.

(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Dain | Design by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.