Mine That Injured South Korean Soldiers Likely Planted by North Korea

The mine that injured South Korean servicemen in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21 may have been planted by North Korean forces.

According to Yonhap News, South Korean military authorities do not yet have conclusive evidence of the mine’s origin, but the evidence gathered during the investigation points to possible North Korean involvement.

In particular, signs of mine-laying by North Korean forces had previously been detected in the area of the explosion.

Traces of TNT were also found on the injured serviceman’s equipment during an inspection.

In addition, about one meter from the site of the first explosion, the military found another brown Soviet-type mine used by North Korean forces.

According to preliminary data, two mines may have detonated during the incident, while service members found another as they withdrew.

The explosion site is located about 10 meters south of the military demarcation line.

On September 27–28, South Korea and the United Nations Command conducted a joint field investigation. Its findings are expected to establish the mine’s exact origin and the circumstances of the explosion.

South Korean military authorities previously stated that their units had not laid mines in the area of the incident.

On September 21, two consecutive explosions occurred in the western part of South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during a route-clearing operation.

Three servicemen from the Republic of Korea Army’s 25th Infantry Division were injured in the incident. Two of them sustained serious injuries, while one serviceman suffered a severe leg injury.