JCS: "One North Korean Anti-Personnel Mine Found 1 Meter from Second Explosion Site"

It was found that one additional anti-personnel mine was identified during the site investigation of the landmine explosion incident in Paju, Gyeonggi Province involving the South Korean military and related authorities.

On September 29, Yang Jin-hyuk, Director of Operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee regarding the suspected landmine explosion incident in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), stating, "According to today's on-site investigation, one additional North Korean plastic anti-personnel mine was identified approximately 1 meter behind the second explosion site, where the crater had formed."

According to Director Yang, on the same day, the on-site investigation task force (TF), which consisted of personnel from the Republic of Korea Army 25th Division, U.S. Forces Korea, and the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, conducted a field investigation near the accident site for about four hours starting at 8 a.m. During this process, one unidentified object was additionally detected at the point where the search route was being cleared, and one plastic anti-personnel mine (resin anti-personnel mine) was identified near the second explosion site.

Director Yang added, "Afterward, we held an on-site discussion between our side and the United Nations Command, but a final conclusion has not been reached." In response to a question from Jin Sung-joon, chairman of the National Assembly Defense Committee, regarding the meaning of 'final conclusion,' he explained, "It has been confirmed that the mine is of North Korean origin, but it has not been determined whether it was deliberately planted or lost and ended up there."

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