Seoul:An undetonated land mine has been spotted at last week's explosion site within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as reported by military sources following preliminary statements from soldiers present during the incident.
According to Yonhap News Agency, these statements were gathered as part of the ongoing military investigation to determine what caused the explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the DMZ, which separates North and South Korea. The blast resulted in two South Korean soldiers sustaining severe injuries, while a third soldier was slightly wounded.
The incident involved two explosions and is suspected to have been triggered by North Korean land mines. However, it is too soon to confirm the presence of an additional unexploded mine or its origin, as investigators could not access the blast site during a recent operation.
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul stated that while initial testimonies are available, it remains challenging to identify the exact type of land mines involved. He assured that further details will be provided to the public as the on-site investigation progresses.
The South Korean military and the U.N. Command (UNC), which manages the border area, commenced a joint investigation into the explosion. They attempted to reach the site to collect debris and evidence but had to halt operations at sunset before reaching the blast location.
The National Forensic Service is analyzing fragments and explosive residues collected from the soldiers' protective gear. Some military experts suggest the explosion was more likely caused by North Korean mines rather than South Korea's standard antipersonnel mines, based on the severity of the injuries and the suspicion that North Korean forces may have placed mines in the area.
If the mines are confirmed to be of North Korean origin, investigators must determine whether they were displaced by rain or deliberately planted, the latter of which would breach the armistice agreement. The explosion occurred during an operation to prepare for a joint inspection by South Korea's military and the UNC aimed at verifying suspicions of illegal mine planting by Pyongyang.
Forensic authorities are anticipated to release initial findings from their analysis of the evidence soon.