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

[Anchor]

We continue with newly reported details regarding the landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It has been confirmed that the blast occurred in an area categorized as relatively safe. Because it detonated in a location where landmines were normally not expected, growing weight is being placed on the possibility that it was a newly planted North Korean mine.

Defense correspondent Kim Tae-hoon reports exclusively.

[Reporter]

The operation carried out yesterday (September 21) by troops of the Army's 25th Infantry Division in the western DMZ was to "clear a patrol route" to inspect areas south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) where North Korea was suspected of having laid landmines.

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

The mine explosion occurred between the 25th Division's existing patrol route and the area suspected of containing North Korean mines.

"Although it is not a patrol path troops use frequently, the mine exploded right next to a route that had been maintained to a certain degree until recently," a government official told SBS.

This indicates that the accident occurred in a relatively safe area that had been under military maintenance until recently and was thus recognized as being clear of mines.

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

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

The mine that seriously injured two soldiers from the 25th Division may have been newly laid by the North Korean military.

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

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, who took office today (September 22), stated regarding the mine explosion, "We will thoroughly determine the cause without ruling out any possibilities and take follow-up measures and responses."

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