It has been reported that testimony emerged indicating troops present during the suspected landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the western front on September 21 witnessed an additional unexploded landmine at the scene.

During the military authorities' investigation, statements were reportedly made to the effect that, in addition to the mines presumed to have detonated twice at the time of the incident, one unexploded mine was present at the site.

However, with multiple testimonies, it remains difficult to determine the specific type, such as whether the spotted device is a wooden-box landmine used by North Korea.

Whether this mine can be recovered during the on-site investigation is expected to be a crucial factor in securing decisive clues.

Asked by reporters on his way to work, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said, "There are several testimonies that make it difficult to specify a particular mine," adding, "We will explain it to the public after verifying that precisely through the on-site investigation."

The South Korean military and the UN Command launched an on-site investigation yesterday (September 27), six days after the incident, but approached only the vicinity of the suspected blast site as clearing a path took time.

They were unable to reach the actual site where the incident occurred.

The military ended yesterday's operation at sunset and decided to resume it later, with further on-site investigations expected to follow.

Once reaching the suspected explosion site, the military is expected to attempt to collect remnants of the mines that detonated.

The military has also requested the National Forensic Service to conduct a component analysis on the gear worn by the injured soldiers at the time of the incident, gauze used to collect gunpowder residue, and fragments removed during surgery.

The initial appraisal results are expected shortly.

Inside and outside the military, an atmosphere leaning toward the possibility that the explosive device was a North Korean mine rather than a South Korean one is also being detected when weighing various circumstances.

Considering that the accident area was not a zone where South Korean forces deployed their M14 and M16 antipersonnel mines, alongside the severity of the casualties' injuries and the explosive power of South Korean versus North Korean mines, the likelihood of a North Korean mine is seen as relatively high.

If it is a North Korean landmine, another key issue to determine is whether it drifted along nearby streams or was deliberately planted by North Korean troops crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

The latter case would constitute a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement.

However, observers inside and outside the military note that physical evidence—such as any unexploded mines that may remain at the site or findings from analyzing shrapnel extracted from the wounded—must be secured to definitively determine whether it was a South Korean or North Korean landmine.

Minister Kang also emphasized to reporters after his inauguration ceremony on September 22, "We do not rule out any possibility," adding, "We must secure clear evidence and speak with certainty."

(Photo courtesy of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Yonhap News)