[Anchor]

Another North Korean landmine has been found at the site of a landmine explosion on the western front. Including the two that detonated, a total of four mines have now been identified. Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-chul stated that it is certain North Korean troops crossed the Military Demarcation Line to plant the landmines.

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong reports first.

[Reporter]

This is the North Korean landmine discovered around 10:00 a.m. on September 29 during the third on-site investigation into the explosion.

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

[Yang Jin-hyeok / Director of Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff: One North Korean resin anti-personnel mine was identified about one meter directly behind where the crater was formed at the secondary explosion site.]

Counting the two that detonated, one confirmed through soldiers' testimonies, and the one discovered on September 29, the military has confirmed a total of four landmines at the incident site.

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

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

The military is leaning toward the possibility that the landmines were planted recently rather than being lost mines washed away by water, particularly because four mines were identified at intervals of 1 to 2 meters.

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

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

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

The military explained that while grass roots found atop the discovered mine suggest it was planted more than a year ago, further investigation is required to determine the precise timing of the planting of the exploded mines and others.

Minister Kang also stated that beyond the 25th Division sector on the western front where the incident took place, there are several locations where North Korean troops crossed the Military Demarcation Line to plant landmines.

[Seong Il-jong / Lawmaker, People Power Party: Across the entire Armistice Line, about how many locations have you identified where North Korean provocations took place?]

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

Regarding the varying degrees of injuries among the casualties, the military also stated it is investigating whether a battalion commander briefly removed and put back on mine overshoes during the withdrawal process.

(Video by Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hee | Design by Kim Han-gil)