South Korea Says Border Blast Was Caused by North Korea Mines
South Korea announced that the explosion in the border area that injured two of its soldiers was caused by landmines planted by North Korea.
The South Korean military officially announced that, based on joint investigations and scientific evidence, the border explosion that severely injured two soldiers was caused by anti-personnel landmines planted by North Korea.
Joint Investigation and Official Announcement
South Korea stated on Monday that the border explosion that led to the injury of its two soldiers occurred because of landmines laid by North Korea.
Assessments by Military Officials
Lieutenant General Kwon Dae-won stated that, based on joint investigations conducted with the UN Command and scientific evidence, it was officially determined that the soldiers were injured by landmines in the Demilitarized Zone.
North Korea's Border Activities
According to the South Korean military briefing, North Korea, which has been fortifying its border since April 2024, deployed approximately 7,000 workers this year to lay mines and fences, and about 50 border violation cases have occurred.
Demand for Apology and Removal of Mines
The South Korean military strongly demanded that North Korea offer a sincere apology for the injured soldiers and immediately remove the landmines it placed in violation of the armistice agreement.
UN Command's Finding and Rejection of Allegations
Last week, the UN Command announced that as a result of joint investigations with South Korea, another North Korean landmine was detected south of the line, while Kim Yo Jong rejected the accusations, calling them baseless.
Ignored Calls for Dialogue
Although the South Korean administration proposed dialogue to reduce tensions and prevent conflict risks, North Korea has not responded to the calls since it declared South Korea a hostile nation in 2023.