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As North Korea condemned the South Korea-U.S.-Japan multi-domain joint exercise Freedom Edge and other drills, the western front Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the Kaesong Industrial Complex area appear quiet, as seen from a border area in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on the 8th. / Yonhap

Three South Korean military officers conducting a search operation in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the western front were injured in an explosion on the 21st, an incident presumed to be a landmine blast based on circumstances.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced that around 10:50 a.m. that day, three South Korean military officers carrying out operations south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the western front DMZ sustained injuries from an unidentified explosion. The unit where the accident occurred was reported to be the Army's 25th Infantry Division, which oversees the western front.

Circumstances suggest a landmine explosion, though a thorough investigation appears necessary to determine whether it was a mine laid by North Korea or by South Korean forces. A JCS official stated that an investigation into the cause of the unidentified blast is underway, noting that the military plans to keep various possibilities open.

"Two injured officers were evacuated immediately to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital by emergency helicopter and are receiving medical treatment," a JCS official said. "The remaining injured officer and the other service members who took part in the operation will also be transferred to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital to undergo thorough examinations and health checks." One of the injured officers was reported to be undergoing surgery for an ankle injury.

Representative Yoo Yong-won of the People Power Party claimed during a National Assembly press briefing that the site of the explosion was reported to be near a minefield laid by North Korean troops south of the MDL. Regarding this claim, a JCS official remarked, "It is situated away from that reported minefield area, and the incident did not take place where terrain modifications had occurred," while adding, "Details on how far away it is are restricted."

The medical evacuation helicopter deployed into the DMZ was authorized by the United Nations Command (UNC). Unable to land, it evacuated the wounded on stretchers via hovering maneuvers. The helicopter reportedly flew multiple sorties to the scene. The investigation is expected to be conducted jointly with the UNC.

Meanwhile, addressing recent allegations that North Korean minefields and tactical roads have crossed the MDL into southern territory, the JCS previously stated, "Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's MDL violations and taking principled measures in accordance with operational procedures," adding, "We have identified certain topographical changes and are consulting closely with the UNC regarding the possibility that mines have been laid."

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol