Military Links DMZ Explosion to North Korean Landmines; Corresponding Actions Planned
Military authorities have determined that the explosion that occurred on September 21 in the western front of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is highly likely to have been caused by North Korean landmines. They plan to take corresponding actions if the final investigation confirms that the mines were indeed planted by North Korean forces.
On September 28, Kwon Dae-won, head of the joint task force investigating the landmine explosion, held a briefing stating, "We believe the cause of the explosion is very likely to be North Korean landmines."
The military assessed the explosion site, considering the shape of the crater, the nature of the flames, the severity of injuries to the affected soldiers, and testimonies from personnel on the scene. They concluded that the possibility of the explosion being caused by South Korean mines is low.
It has been confirmed that there are no records of South Korean mines being planted at the explosion site. However, traces of North Korean mines were found nearby during an investigation conducted in September of last year.
Additionally, the military released preliminary findings from the National Forensic Service regarding the equipment of the injured soldiers. The analysis detected components of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and brown foreign substances in the soldiers' gear.
Kwon emphasized that the absence of metal fragments, along with the presence of the brown foreign substance, confirms that the explosion was not caused by South Korean mines. It is reported that North Korean wooden box mines typically contain about 220 grams of TNT.
Banks to Open 30 Minutes Later Starting April 2027; Labor Agreement Reached
Starting in April 2027, bank branches will open 30 minutes later than their current schedule. This adjustment comes as a result of an agreement between labor and management in the financial sector, reflecting changes in customer behavior due to reduced working hours and the rise of digital banking.
On September 28, the National Financial Industry Labor Union and the Financial Industry Employers' Council announced that they reached a tentative agreement during central negotiations. This agreement comes approximately five months after negotiations began in April.
Under the agreement, bank opening hours will shift from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. starting in April 2027, while closing times will remain unchanged at 4 p.m.
Kwon Hyuk-bin Appeals Divorce Ruling; Disputes 2.5 Trillion Won Asset Division
Kwon Hyuk-bin, Chief Vision Officer of Smilegate, filed an appeal on September 28 against a first-instance ruling that ordered him to divide approximately 2.5 trillion won worth of company shares with his ex-spouse.
Kwon's legal team stated, "We have filed an appeal against the divorce and asset division ruling by the Seoul Family Court." They expressed their intention to continue efforts to restore the marriage as a head of the family.
Previously, the Seoul Family Court's Family Division 3, presided over by Judge Jeong Dong-hyuk, granted the divorce petition filed by Kwon's ex-spouse and ordered him to pay 35% of his Smilegate shares and 650 billion won in cash. However, the court dismissed the ex-spouse's claim for alimony.
Busan to Guide Shark 'Bukan-i' Back to Sea Using Boats and Water Pumps
As the large shark 'Bukan-i' has been lingering in an artificial waterway within a park, authorities in Busan initiated additional measures on September 28.
The city announced that a meeting was held at the North Port, and starting at 10 a.m. on September 29, they will use boats and water pumps to guide Bukan-i back to the open sea.
Authorities plan to create a water flow towards the ocean using boats and water pumps to encourage the shark to move on its own. They have decided against capturing the shark directly or using physical stimuli.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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