Three South Korean soldiers injured by landmine, possibly buried by North Korea

[Seoul Jiji] A landmine exploded near the military demarcation line between South and North Korea, injuring three South Korean soldiers, and the South Korean military announced on the 28th that it was ``very likely a North Korean landmine.'' A South Korean military official said, ``If the mine is ultimately determined to be a North Korean landmine, our military will take appropriate measures.'' The Lee Jae-myung administration has taken a conciliatory stance toward North Korea, calling for U.S.-North Korea dialogue, but tensions could rise if a conclusion is reached.

The accident occurred on the 21st on the south side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) across the border. Two soldiers were reportedly seriously injured, one with an amputated ankle.

South Korean military officials determined that it was not a South Korean landmine based on the appearance of the explosion. He also pointed out that there was a landmine similar to the wooden box mines used by the North Korean military about one meter from the explosion site.

Since labeling South Korea as a "hostile country" at the end of 2023, the North Korean military has been constructing walls near the border and planting new landmines by crossing the border. According to the South Korean military, the explosion point was about 10 meters from the border. It is possible that the mines were washed away by rain, but the South Korean military reportedly discovered evidence of North Korean landmines near the site in September last year.

In August 2015, two South Korean soldiers were seriously injured by landmines near the border. At that time, the South Korean military immediately investigated the site, and six days later, North Korea announced that it had been buried. The South Korean side decided to broadcast propaganda using loudspeakers, but the North Korean military responded with artillery fire, resulting in a tense situation.

Jang Dong-hyuk, head of the main conservative opposition party People's Power, who met with Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol on the 28th, emphasized, ``If North Korea has newly planted landmines, it is a clear act of aggression.''

President Lee, whose approval ratings are declining, would like to avoid criticism of his ``weakness.'' On the other hand, in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 22nd, he just called for the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue. It appears that the real intention is to respond in a restrained manner, and it seems likely that a difficult response will be required.