Military: "Highly Likely DMZ Explosion Caused by North Korean Landmine... All Responsibility Lies with North Korea"

On-Site Investigation Continues for Second Day with UN Command

Interim Findings Announced

"Suspected Anti-Personnel Mine Similar to North Korean Wooden Box-Type Mine"

The South Korean military authorities announced that it is highly likely the explosion that occurred in the western front section of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the 21st was caused by a landmine planted by North Korean forces. The military also stated that it would take corresponding measures if it is ultimately determined to be a North Korean-planted landmine.

Kwon Daewon, Deputy Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is leaving after finishing a briefing on the 'Demilitarized Zone suspected landmine explosion accident' at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Kwon Daewon, Deputy Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and head of the joint on-site investigation task force regarding the landmine explosion in the DMZ, stated in a briefing on the 28th, "We have determined that it is highly likely that the explosion was caused by a landmine planted by North Korean forces."

Deputy Chief Kwon explained that, taking into account the characteristics of the explosion site, the burn patterns observed, and the severity of injuries sustained by military personnel, it is presumed that the explosion was not caused by a landmine planted by South Korean forces.

The military found that there is no record of South Korean landmines being planted in the area where the explosion occurred. In contrast, evidence of North Korean landmine placement in nearby areas was discovered in September 2025.

 

According to the initial forensic analysis of the injured soldier's gear conducted by the National Forensic Service, residue of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and brown foreign substances were detected. It has been reported that North Korean wooden box landmines typically contain about 220 grams of trinitrotoluene.

Kwon stated, "Given the detection of brown foreign substances and the absence of metal fragments in the initial forensic findings, it is clear that the cause of the explosion was not a South Korean landmine."

During the investigation, a statement was also made that a brown-colored North Korean plastic anti-personnel mine was found about one meter away from the initial blast site. The plastic anti-personnel mine is a landmine with an exterior made of plastic.

The military believes that two landmines exploded during the incident, and that an additional landmine was found during the withdrawal, suggesting a total of three landmines were present in the area. The explosion site was located approximately 10 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line and about 10 meters away from a terrain change area suspected to have had North Korean landmines installed.

The South Korean military and the United Nations Command have been conducting on-site investigations for two consecutive days since the 27th, and the final findings will be announced after a joint assessment with the UN Command.

Kwon stated, "If the final investigation determines that our military's casualties were indeed caused by landmines planted by North Korean forces, it means that our soldiers, who were performing DMZ operations as usual in the South, were injured by North Korean landmines." He added, "All responsibility lies with North Korea, and our military will implement justified and corresponding measures."

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