Mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone: Seoul accuses North Korea

The violation of the ceasefire agreement is obvious. Since the responsibility rests with North Korea, we will take appropriate action. We have the necessary plans and will implement them in stages, said South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin Chul during his speech before the parliamentary defense committee.

The explosion occurred on September 21 during an operation approximately 10 meters south of the military demarcation line dividing the two Koreas. Three South Korean soldiers were injured, two of them seriously.

Results of the investigation

The preliminary results of a joint investigation by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command (UNC), presented on Monday, indicate that the "most likely" cause of the incident was North Korean plastic anti-personnel mines.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Kwon De Won, announced that analysis of the fragments secured at the site showed the presence of TNT and plastic. This matches the characteristics of the mines used by Pyongyang. According to the military, the charges were placed intentionally, probably as part of the North's fortification works.

Another cargo found

On Tuesday, the Joint College reported that another North Korean plastic mine was found during the site inspection that day.

The found charge differs from the mine that soldiers noticed during the evacuation from the explosion area - then they described an object resembling a mine in a wood-like casing. This discovery raises questions about the exact number of explosives placed in the area of ​​the incident, the Yonhap news agency emphasized.

Military officials announced that full and detailed results of the investigation will be presented to the public after all field and analytical activities are completed.

800 thousand mines in the Demilitarized Zone

The Demilitarized Zone, which has divided the Korean Peninsula since the end of fighting in the Korean War in 1953, is one of the most heavily mined areas in the world.

According to military estimates, there are approximately 800,000 people in this area. mines - both those planted in the 1950s and charges installed in recent years.

Both Korean states formally remain at war - the war that lasted in 1950-53 was not ended by a peace treaty, but by an armistice. The demilitarized zone between the two Korean states is supervised by the United Nations.