Photo : YONHAP News
South Korea’s military and the United Nations Command have begun preparations for a joint on-site investigation into a suspected landmine explosion that recently occurred in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Saturday that the two sides jointly secured a route to the site and assessed operational conditions in preparation for the investigation.
The investigation team consists of a JCS joint on-site investigation task force, the UN Command Military Armistice Commission, relevant investigative agencies and about 20 military personnel, including soldiers who carried out operations at the time of the explosion Monday.
Saturday’s assessment included evaluating the safety of the route and checking surveillance and communications conditions, while the JCS said it plans to provide the public with an objective and transparent account based on the findings of the subsequent investigation.
The military has also collected protective clothing and mine-protective overshoes worn by the soldiers at the time of the incident and sent them to the National Forensic Service for analysis to determine whether the explosion was caused by a North Korean or South Korean mine. Initial results are expected this week.
Two suspected mine explosions occurred at about 10:50 a.m. Monday near the Military Demarcation Line in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, leaving two soldiers seriously injured and another with minor injuries.