The South Korean army investigates a mine explosion in the demilitarized zone

The army explained on Sunday that the specialized investigation team, which includes about 40 officials, began inspections and field examinations of the site that witnessed the explosion on September 21, stressing that an additional survey will be conducted to verify the causes of the accident and announce the results to public opinion as soon as they are completed.

The explosion resulted in the injury of three South Korean soldiers while they were carrying out a mission to clear the path of a military patrol in the western sector of the demilitarized zone, which is a heavily fortified area on the border with North Korea.

For his part, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung confirmed that the explosion was caused by a landmine, while opposition parties raised doubts about the possibility that the source of the mine was North Korea, demanding complete transparency in the investigations.

The demilitarized zone, which is 155 miles (about 250 kilometers) long and 2.5 miles (about 4 kilometers) wide, is one of the most armed borders in the world. It is estimated that there are about two million mines in and around the area, in addition to barbed wire, anti-tank barriers, and combat forces deployed on both sides of it. The region is a remnant of the Korean War that took place between 1950 and 1953 and ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Mine explosions and other explosive ordnance pose a constant danger in and around the demilitarized zone, as old mines have injured soldiers on both sides from time to time, while South Korean media reports said that since last March, North Korean forces have intensified fortification work near the border, including planting mines and erecting fences.