Military and UNC Deploy Personnel to Secured DMZ Access Routes... Preparing for On-Site Investigation of Landmine Incident

The military and the United Nations Command (UNC) have begun preparations to deploy personnel into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for an on-site investigation at the location of a suspected landmine explosion that recently occurred along the western frontline.

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

According to a press release issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on the 26th, "The military and UNC today jointly secured access routes and assessed the operational environment inside the DMZ in preparation for an on-site investigation into the suspected landmine explosion."

The personnel deployed to the DMZ on this day conducted a comprehensive review of the operational environment by assessing the safety of access routes, as well as checking surveillance and communication status. The team included members from the JCS-led joint investigative task force headed by the JCS Deputy Chairman, the Secretary of the UNC Military Armistice Commission, representatives from investigative agencies, and around 20 operational troops. Some soldiers who had participated in the DMZ search route clearing operation at the time of the incident on the 21st also volunteered to take part.

The JCS emphasized, "The military has been continuously preparing to ensure that a rigorous joint on-site investigation with the UNC can proceed under fully secured conditions for the troops' safety," adding, "We will thoroughly investigate the causes of the incident and provide transparent explanations to the public."

Previously, at around 10:50 a.m. on the 21st, while the Army was conducting a search route clearing operation near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) under the jurisdiction of the Army's 25th Division in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, two suspected landmine explosions occurred, resulting in serious injuries to the search battalion commander and another individual, with a third person sustaining minor injuries. Since then, the military has been preparing for a joint investigation of the site together with the UNC. On the 23rd, Minister of National Defense Kang Shinchul visited the 25th Division to check the preparation status for the investigation, followed by the JCS Director of Operations on the 24th, and JCS Chairman Jin Youngseung the previous day.

The military maintains that, given the high-risk nature of the incident location—being close to the MDL and lacking an existing search route—ensuring comprehensive safety measures must come first before any on-site investigation can occur. To accurately determine the exact location of the incident, operational personnel present at the time of the accident must participate in the investigation; the military also considered the fact that these personnel must have sufficiently overcome their post-traumatic stress to take part.

The opposition has harshly criticized the delay in the on-site investigation, arguing that with the possibility of North Korean landmine placement, such a postponement could provide the North Korean military with time to destroy evidence. There are also concerns that rainfall during the Chuseok holiday period might damage important conditions at the site.

Regarding the timing of the on-site investigation, the JCS stated, "Operational plans such as the investigation schedule are classified, as their exposure could pose a severe threat to the safety of our troops and investigators. We ask for careful consideration regarding the disclosure of such information," adding that results will be objectively and transparently communicated to the public once the investigation is complete.

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