Joint Chiefs Confirm Mine Explosion South of MDL Caused by North Korean Landmines

The Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed on October 5 that the mine explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) was caused by North Korean landmines.

Major General Kwon Dae-won, the head of the Joint Chiefs' task force, stated during a briefing at the Defense Ministry that multiple assessments were conducted by the National Forensic Service due to the significance of the incident. The task force conducted a joint on-site investigation with the United Nations Command from September 26 to 29, and based on the findings and the forensic results, they announced the final investigation results.

He added, "The UN Command also assessed that the mines were deliberately placed and estimated that they were installed more than 12 months ago."

Kwon emphasized that North Korea's so-called border fortification efforts led to the installation of anti-personnel mines south of the MDL, resulting in serious injuries to South Korean soldiers conducting normal operations in the DMZ.

Additionally, he stated, "Our military has removed the North Korean minefield south of the MDL, which was recognized by the UN Command as a violation of the armistice agreement. In the future, if North Korea does not voluntarily remove the minefields it has established south of the MDL, our military will continue mine removal operations to ensure peace in the DMZ and the safety of our soldiers."

Brigadier General Kim Sung-yoon, head of the Joint Chiefs' Intelligence Analysis Division, noted, "There are differences in the understanding of the MDL between the South, North, and the UN Command. It appears that the North Korean military is conducting border fortification work based on the connection lines of their markers or the MDL they recognize."

He specifically mentioned that there have been over 50 identified violations of the MDL this year, with approximately 40 incidents occurring at one location since mid-August, when the first violation was reported in the eastern region.

The Foreign Ministry stated that Minister Park Jin presented an independent sanctions plan against North Korea's illegal cyber activities during the National Security Council meeting on October 1, in response to the DMZ mine explosion incident. However, the ministry cautioned against overinterpretation, stating that the plan is still in the internal review stage.

In a press release, the Foreign Ministry explained, "North Korea's illegal cyber activities are not only a major source of funding for its nuclear and missile programs but also pose a threat to the global digital economy, regardless of nationality. Our government has been responding in cooperation with the international community."