Military and UN Command begin preparations for on-site investigation of suspected mine explosion in DMZ

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Hyo-jeong = The military and the United Nations Command deployed troops to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the 26th to conduct preparations for an on-site investigation of a suspected landmine explosion that recently occurred on the Western Front.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (Joint Chiefs of Staff) announced in a media notice that day, "The military and the United Nations Command jointly secured a mobile route and investigated the operational environment for an on-site investigation regarding a suspected mine explosion situation in the DMZ today."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff explained that personnel deployed to the DMZ on this day confirmed the overall operational environment through safety evaluation of the movement route, surveillance, and communication status inspection.

About 20 members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Field Investigation Task Force (TF) led by the Deputy Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary-General of the UNC Military Armistice Commission, the Military Intelligence Committee, investigation agencies, and operational forces were deployed.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff added that some of the soldiers who participated in the DMZ search route pioneering operation at the time of the accident on the 21st also participated voluntarily.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized, “The military has been continuously preparing to ensure a thorough joint on-site investigation with the UNC while ensuring the safety of the soldiers,” and added, “We plan to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and provide a transparent explanation to the public.”

Previously, at around 10:50 a.m. on the 21st, two suspected mine explosions occurred while the military was conducting a search road development operation in the area adjacent to the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, under the jurisdiction of the Army's 25th Division, and two people, including the search battalion leader, were seriously injured and one person was slightly injured.

Since then, the military has been preparing a joint investigation of the accident site with the United Nations Command. Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-cheol on the 23rd, Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Center on the 24th, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Jin Young-seung on the 25th visited the 25th Division to inspect preparations for the field investigation.

The military's position is that since the location of this accident is close to the MDL and there is no existing search route, it is a high-risk area, so thorough safety must be ensured prior to on-site investigation.

In order to accurately identify the location of the incident, operational forces at the time of the accident must participate in the on-site investigation, and it was also taken into consideration that they must have overcome post-traumatic stress to some extent.

However, the opposition party has been fiercely attacking the military, claiming that the military is delaying the on-site investigation in a situation where there is a possibility that the North Korean military may have planted landmines, and that this is giving the North Korean military time to destroy evidence. Some are concerned that the rain that fell during the Chuseok holiday may damage the site situation.

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon held a press conference that day and claimed that the Korean government had rejected the UNC's request for a quick on-site investigation, saying, "They say they will prepare starting today and (the investigation) will be held on the 27th."

Regarding the timing of the on-site investigation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "We ask you to be cautious about the operational plan, including the on-site investigation schedule, as it is a security matter and could pose a serious threat to the safety of our military personnel and the investigation team if exposed."

In addition, he repeatedly said, “Based on field investigations, etc., we plan to explain the results to the public objectively and transparently.”