Yongwon Yoo: "DMZ Explosion Occurred Near Minefield Established by North Korean Forces"

Three Soldiers Injured in Landmine Explosion in the DMZ
Blast Occurred During Construction of New Search Passage
Yongwon Yoo: "The Party Responsible for Planting the Mine Must Be Identified Clearly"

Yongwon Yoo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party and member of the National Assembly National Defense Committee, stated that the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) explosion accident, in which three South Korean soldiers were injured, occurred near a landmine zone established by North Korean forces south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Center on the 21st, Assemblyman Yoo said, "According to a well-informed source, the site of the explosion accident today is near a landmine zone that North Korean forces established south of the MDL between last year and early this year."

People Power Party lawmaker Yongwon Yoo is holding a press conference on the 21st at the National Assembly Communication Center regarding a landmine explosion accident that occurred during operations in the Demilitarized Zone. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Assemblyman Yoo explained, "Within the area under the jurisdiction of the 25th Division alone, the military has identified at least six landmine zones installed by North Korean forces that extend 10 to 15 meters beyond the MDL," adding, "Although the precise distance between the accident site and the location where North Korean troops planted landmines has not yet been confirmed, it is known to be in the adjacent area."

It has been reported that, at the time of the accident, the soldiers were working to create a new search route within the DMZ. Assemblyman Yoo noted, "In order to verify the landmine zones and other installations North Korea has placed south of the MDL, the military has recently been constructing new search routes," and argued, "Since the accident occurred during this process, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the landmine in question was one set by North Korean forces."

However, the type of landmine that exploded and the party responsible for planting it have not yet been confirmed. Assemblyman Yoo also remarked, "It cannot be definitively stated that the landmine was planted by North Korean forces," emphasizing, "A thorough investigation is necessary to determine whether it was a North Korean landmine or an unidentified one left over from previous times."

On the morning of the 21st, soldiers of the 25th Division were performing operations in the DMZ when they were injured in an accident believed to have been caused by a landmine explosion. Three soldiers were injured, and it has been reported that two of them sustained serious injuries.

Assemblyman Yoo called on the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to disclose the location and circumstances of the accident, the type of explosive device involved, the party responsible for planting it, as well as the locations and scale of additional North Korean minefields newly identified south of the MDL. He also requested that the authorities clarify when the risk was first identified, when the Presidential Office was briefed, and what follow-up measures have been implemented.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.