A political dispute is intensifying over a mine explosion incident in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the western front. The ruling People Power Party has raised concerns about the lack of a joint investigation six days after the incident, alleging 'delayed investigation' and 'evidence destruction.' The opposition Democratic Party has countered by emphasizing the dangers of the area near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), stating that they cannot send investigation personnel without adequate safety measures.
On the 26th, Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, expressed his frustration on social media, stating, "No investigation has even begun. It has rained, but they likely did not preserve the scene," calling it a clear case of 'evidence destruction.'
Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik also took to social media, urging a swift announcement of who is responsible for the mine explosion, stating, "Do not treat the injured as 'your son' and clarify the situation based on the five Ws and one H (who, what, when, where, why, how)."
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon demanded explanations from the government and military, saying, "The Lee Jae-myung administration should not evade responsibility and must reveal who ordered the refusal of the United Nations' immediate investigation request. The Minister of National Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff must come forward and explain to the public immediately."
The Democratic Party rebutted the opposition's claims, arguing that they are prematurely attributing the incident to North Korea and suggesting a government cover-up before the cause has been confirmed.
Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, criticized the People Power Party for politicizing national security issues, stating, "They are engaging in treasonous behavior, calculating politically without regard for national security." Jeon Eun-soo, the party's floor spokesperson, also noted that the government and military have not ruled out the possibility that the mines were planted by North Korea, emphasizing the need to await the investigation results.
Kim Byeong-joo, the Democratic Party's representative on the National Defense Committee, countered the opposition's accusations of investigation delays by inviting People Power Party members to visit the site together.
During a press conference on the 26th, Kim stated, "Let’s stop using the injured soldiers as fodder for political disputes. If there are suspicions, let’s verify them together at the site and in the National Defense Committee." He urged People Power Party lawmakers to join the scheduled visit to the incident site on Monday.
In response to claims of no investigation being conducted, Kim pointed out that the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission inspected the site on the 22nd, followed by Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol on the 23rd, and the Director of Operations and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 24th and 25th, respectively.
However, voices within the ruling party have also called for the government to provide a more proactive explanation of the incident. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won criticized the government's response on social media, stating, "If our soldiers were injured in a mine incident, the truth must be revealed for the public to understand."
On the morning of the 21st, at around 10:50 a.m., two explosions, presumed to be from mines, occurred in an area near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) under the jurisdiction of the Army's 25th Division in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, injuring two individuals, including the commander of a search battalion, and leaving one with minor injuries. Military authorities plan to conduct an investigation after implementing safety measures to prepare for any further explosion risks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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