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 into a recent suspected landmine explosion 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

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on the 26th through a press release that "the military and the UNC jointly conducted an operation today to secure passage and survey the operational environment for an on-site investigation into the suspected landmine explosion in the DMZ."

The personnel deployed to the DMZ on this day checked the overall operational environment by assessing the safety of the access routes, as well as inspecting surveillance and communication conditions. More than 20 individuals participated, including members of the JCS Joint On-Site Investigation Task Force led by the JCS vice chairman, the secretary of the UNC Military Armistice Commission and others from the Commission, investigators, and operational troops. Some soldiers who had taken part in the route-clearing operation in the DMZ at the time of the incident on the 21st also participated voluntarily.

The JCS emphasized, "The military has been continuously preparing, in close coordination with the UNC, to conduct a thorough joint on-site investigation while ensuring the safety of all personnel. We plan to thoroughly investigate the causes of the incident and offer a transparent explanation to the public."

Earlier, at around 10:50 a.m. on the 21st, two suspected landmine explosions occurred during a route-clearing operation near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) under the jurisdiction of the 25th Army Division in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. As a result, two individuals, including the battalion commander, sustained serious injuries, and one person was slightly injured. Since then, the military has been preparing a joint investigation of the scene with the UNC. On the 23rd, Minister of National Defense Kang Shinchul, the Chief of Operations of the JCS on the 24th, and JCS Chairman Jin Youngseung on the previous day, each visited the 25th Division in succession to check the status of preparation for the on-site investigation.

The military maintains that, since the incident occurred in a high-risk area near the MDL where no existing search routes are present, thorough safety measures must precede any on-site investigation. In order to accurately identify the site of the incident, it is necessary for the operational personnel involved at the time to participate in the investigation; however, it was also taken into consideration that these individuals first need to overcome a certain degree of post-traumatic stress.

Meanwhile, the opposition has strongly criticized the military for delaying the on-site investigation in a situation where there is a possibility that North Korean troops planted landmines, claiming that this gives North Korean forces time to destroy evidence. There have also been concerns from some quarters that rainfall during the Chuseok holiday period may have damaged the scene.

Regarding the timing of the on-site investigation, the JCS stated, "Operational plans, including the schedule for the on-site investigation, are confidential. Disclosure could pose a significant threat to the safety of our personnel and members of the investigation team, so we ask for utmost caution." The JCS added, "Based on the on-site investigation and related findings, we will provide the public with an objective and transparent explanation."

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