Oh Se-hoon: "Thorough Investigation Needed into DMZ Accident Cause...Always Grateful for Soldiers' Dedication"

"Wishing the injured a speedy recovery and offering deep condolences to their families"
"No negligence must occur in the safety, treatment, or veteran honors for our soldiers"

Oh Se-hoon, the Mayor of Seoul, wished for the speedy recovery of soldiers injured in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) explosion but also called on the military authorities to investigate the cause of the accident and provide a clear explanation of the findings.

On September 23, Mayor Oh posted a message titled "Wishing the injured soldiers a quick recovery" on his social media. He wrote, "I am deeply saddened by the injury accident suffered by our service members. I wish them a fast recovery and extend my deepest condolences to their families as well."

On the afternoon of the 22nd, a Surion helicopter is moving over the southern boundary line of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the western front of Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Mayor Oh also mentioned the concerns of parents who must spend the Chuseok holiday with their children serving in the military, stressing, "Right at this moment, many young people are dedicating their youth to protect our country." He continued, "I am always grateful for the devotion of our soldiers. I urge the military authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and clearly explain the facts that have been confirmed to the public. There must not be even the slightest negligence regarding the safety, treatment, and veteran honors for our soldiers."

The mayor also referred to the Young Wounded Veterans Counseling Center operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. He explained that the center supports official designation as a person of national merit and helps with reintegration into society, emphasizing, "We will stand by the heroes injured while serving our nation, ensuring that they are never left alone on their road to recovery."

The previous day, during a path-clearing operation in the DMZ under the jurisdiction of the Army's 25th Division, an explosion occurred, resulting in two military officers sustaining serious injuries.

On the same day, Kang Shin-cheol, the newly appointed Minister of National Defense, addressed the incident during his inaugural press conference, stating, "We will leave no possibility unexamined, identify the cause, follow up thoroughly, and respond as necessary."

Minister Kang stressed, "Currently, there is nothing that can be confirmed on video. At this time, we cannot determine whether the suspected North Korean mine area, our military search path, and the actual accident site are the same. We don't know if it was ours or North Korea's, who planted it, or whether it was dislodged. We must speak only after securing definite evidence."

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