Additional North Korean Landmine Found: "Planted, Not Washed Away"

[Anchor]

Another North Korean landmine has been discovered in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the western front, where a landmine explosion recently occurred. A total of four landmines were clustered in one area at intervals of 1 to 2 meters, and Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-chul stated it is certain that North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line to plant them.

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong has our top story today (September 30).

[Reporter]

This is the North Korean landmine discovered at around 10 a.m. yesterday during the third on-site investigation of the landmine explosion.

It is a North Korean resin anti-personnel mine shaped like a brown rectangular box, which is a plastic anti-personnel mine.

[Yang Jin-hyeok / Director of Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff (Yesterday) : One North Korean resin anti-personnel mine was identified approximately 1 meter directly behind the crater created at the site of the second explosion.]

Between the two exploded mines, one mine confirmed through soldiers' testimonies, and the mine discovered yesterday, the military has confirmed a total of four mines at the incident scene.

[Cheon Ha-ram / Reform Party Lawmaker (Yesterday) : The interim assessment said it was highly likely to be a North Korean landmine. Can we now say for certain that it is a North Korean landmine?]

[Kang Shin-chul / Minister of National Defense (Yesterday) : Yes, that is correct.]

In particular, as four landmines were identified at intervals of 1 to 2 meters, the military is weighing the strong possibility that they were recently planted rather than swept away and displaced by water.

Since April 2024, North Korea has been carrying out so-called "border fortification" efforts, planting landmines and clearing land across parts of the DMZ, and the military believes this is very likely a minefield created during that period.

[Kang Shin-chul / Minister of National Defense (Yesterday) : It appears they planted them as part of border fortification in front of the MDL.]

However, the military remains cautious regarding the exact timing of the planting.

Although the presence of grass roots and debris over the newly discovered mine suggests it was planted more than a year ago, the military explained that further investigation is required to pinpoint the exact timing of when the exploded mines and others were laid.

Minister Kang also stated that there are multiple locations beyond the 25th Infantry Division's sector on the western front, where this incident occurred, where North Korean troops crossed the Military Demarcation Line to plant landmines.

[Seong Il-jong / People Power Party Lawmaker (Yesterday) : Across the entire Demarcation Line, about how many locations do you currently assess there were North Korean provocations?]

[Kang Shin-chul / Minister of National Defense (Yesterday) : I would say several locations.]

Regarding the differing severity of injuries among the victims, the military also announced that it is investigating whether the battalion commander temporarily took off and put back on his protective mine overboots during the withdrawal process.

(Video by Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hee | Graphics by Kim Han-gil)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.