Seoul Says North Korean Mines Wounded 3 Soldiers, Vows Response for Armistice Breach
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Sep 29
Seoul Says North Korean Mines Wounded 3 Soldiers, Vows Response for Armistice Breach
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Sep 29
Summary
Three South Korean soldiers were wounded in two DMZ blasts on Sept. 21, and Seoul now says North Korean landmines caused the incident, calling it a clear armistice violation.
One soldier lost a foot, and investigators found an unexploded North Korean plastic anti-personnel mine at the site on Tuesday, strengthening the military's earlier assessment.
Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul said South Korean troops had been clearing the area with the UN Command before a terrain survey, but dense vegetation and detector use too high above the ground likely missed the mines.
Kang said the military has a range of measures and will implement them in stages, without detailing them.
The case revives a long-running flashpoint in the heavily fortified DMZ, where North Korea has expanded mines and barriers since 2024 and a similar 2015 blast triggered Seoul's loudspeaker campaign.