South Korea’s military said Monday that North Korean antipersonnel land mines were “highly likely” responsible for a Sept. 21 explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone that severely injured two soldiers and lightly injured a third.
Lt. Gen. Kwon Dae-won, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that forensic work with the United Nations Command found TNT traces and brown synthetic resin consistent with North Korean plastic-cased mines. The blast site was about 10 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line and roughly 10 meters from terrain changes where Pyongyang is suspected of recently planting mines, Yonhap and Al Jazeera (opens in new tab) reported.
Investigators believe three mines were buried at the site, including one unexploded device spotted as troops withdrew. The soldiers had been clearing a path for a joint South Korea–UNC inspection of suspected mine-laying across the border — activity Seoul says would violate the 1953 armistice.
Kwon said that if a final finding confirms North Korean responsibility, “accountability rests entirely with North Korea” and Seoul will take “appropriate and corresponding measures.” The UNC told Yonhap it had no further comment while the investigation remains open. North Korea has not publicly commented.
The DMZ remains one of the world’s most heavily mined frontiers. Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang have stayed hostile in recent years, with Kim Jong Un labeling South Korea the “principal enemy” and reinforcing border defenses.