Seoul, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : South Korea’s military announced on Monday that a recent explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was caused by anti-personnel landmines deliberately laid by North Korea. The incident, which occurred last month, resulted in injuries to three South Korean soldiers. Following the explosion, the military launched an operation to remove the mines from the area.
The investigation, conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Command (UNC), confirmed that the explosion on September 21 was indeed caused by resin-based anti-personnel mines intentionally buried south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) by North Korea. Two soldiers sustained serious ankle injuries, while a third soldier suffered minor injuries.
Lieutenant General Kwon De-won, Vice Chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), stated in a press briefing that the mines used in the recent explosions contained TNT and thermosetting resin components consistent with materials found in North Korean tunnels. He noted that fragments recovered from the injured soldiers matched North Korean plastic anti-personnel mines previously found in the Imjin River. These mines featured a brown outer shell and a mesh pattern on the lid.
According to the South Korean military, landmines from North Korea often wash into the southern part of the MDL during floods. However, the mines involved in the recent explosion were buried approximately three to ten centimeters underground, suggesting they were intentionally placed rather than naturally washed in. Kwon mentioned that the UNC has also concluded that these mines were deliberately laid, likely around twelve months ago.
GPS measurements indicated that both explosion sites and the location of an additional mine were situated about ten meters south of the military demarcation line. The South Korean military removed the landmine area south of the MDL shortly after noon on Monday, marking its first action following the explosion.
The military released a video of the operation, showing black smoke rising and the sound of a loud explosion. They described this operation as an effective response against North Korean landmine placements verified by the UNC.
The South Korean military stated that if North Korea refuses to remove the landmines it has laid, they will continue their own efforts to clear the area. Kwon emphasized that the military demands a formal apology from North Korea for the injuries to South Korean soldiers and insists on the immediate removal of the mines, which violate the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
Under this agreement, hostile activities from either side in the DMZ are prohibited. The MDL serves as a buffer zone between the two Koreas, and crossing it without permission is forbidden.
Since April 2024, North Korea has been reinforcing its security structures along the border, including strengthening barbed wire fences, laying additional landmines, and erecting anti-tank obstacles around the MDL. This escalation follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s characterization of inter-Korean relations as those between “hostile states.”
The JCS reported increased North Korean activities around the MDL since March 2025. The military estimates that approximately 7,000 North Korean soldiers are engaged daily in clearing land, laying mines, and erecting fences, particularly in eastern front areas.
This year, incidents of North Korean incursions south of the MDL have exceeded 50, a significant rise compared to nine in 2024 and 17 in 2025. However, North Korea has denied responsibility for the recent explosions. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, dismissed South Korea’s conclusions as fabricated, warning of retaliation if Seoul takes action based on these claims.
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