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The South Korean military and the United Nations Command conduct operations to secure maneuver routes and survey the operational environment in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the 26th for an on-site investigation into a suspected landmine explosion on the western front. / Yonhap

Statements indicating that the explosive involved in a suspected landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) resembled a North Korean wooden-box mine have been secured. As it has emerged that a detector capable of locating non-metallic objects such as wooden boxes was in use at the time, the detection scope and performance are set to become primary focal points of the investigation.

Hwang Joo-bong, director of the Operations 1 Division at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), stated during a Ministry of National Defense briefing on the 28th, "Multiple individuals reported sighting an object near the blast site. The statements indicated that its shape resembled a wooden-box mine and its material appeared to be plastic."

Emphasizing that while a thorough investigation remains necessary, the credibility of the testimony is high, Hwang explained, "Personnel deployed to DMZ operations have been thoroughly trained and tested on the shapes, materials, and characteristics of both enemy and friendly mines. Anyone with that training would have been capable of identifying and specifying a wooden-box mine."

A wooden-box mine, as the name suggests, houses roughly 200 grams of TNT alongside a fuse fixed inside a wooden casing. It causes greater blast damage than the South Korean military's M14 anti-personnel mine, which contains about 28 grams of TNT, and its wooden construction makes it notoriously difficult to detect.

The possibility has also surfaced that the sighted item was an unexploded mine left behind after the blasts. Addressing suspicions that unexploded ordnance remained at the site, Director Hwang remarked, "We cannot conclude whether the sightings by various personnel refer to the same mine, nor can we determine how many rounds were present. Several procedures, including verification through detection operations, are required."

The JCS noted that given the variety of accounts secured alongside the wooden-box mine testimony, it will synthesize the findings and provide a comprehensive explanation following an on-site investigation in the coming days. "In addition to statements pointing to a wooden-box mine, some suggested the object might be of a different type. Indeed, there are mines that share a similar shape to wooden-box mines," Hwang stated. "We plan to clarify the cause clearly through an on-site investigation followed by appraisal by the National Forensic Service, and explain the matter objectively."

Because the PRS-20K mine detector—capable of identifying non-metallic objects such as wooden casings—was deployed during the operation, the actual area covered during scanning will serve as a key issue in the inquiry. "The PRS-20K is capable of detecting non-metallic objects," Hwang said. "We plan to verify the extent of the area swept on site through the on-site probe."

Meanwhile, the JCS revealed that while it conducted an on-site investigation with the United Nations Command on the 27th—six days after the explosion occurred—the team failed to reach the suspected blast point itself. Around 40 personnel were mobilized for that effort. Since the incident took place around 11 a.m. on the 21st, observers note the blast location may sit not far from the operational gate.

"The operational environment differs from that at the time of the accident. Back then, the enemy was unaware of our search operations, whereas now the situation is tracked in real time even by the public," Hwang explained. "We had to exercise heightened caution in our situational assessment, and donning heavy, movement-restricting protective gear required additional time." He added, however, that identical protective equipment was worn on both the 21st and the 27th.

Questions have also been raised over whether path-clearing was being conducted elsewhere beyond the blast site. The accident occurred while clearing a reconnaissance route ahead of a UNC on-site survey of terrain changes south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

Responding to questions about why unmanned assets such as drones or robotic platforms were not deployed, Hwang stated, "Because route clearing can be evaluated using imagery and satellite data, mechanical breaching assets were deemed unnecessary based on that assessment. However, robots were operated in certain areas."

Addressing concerns that rainfall over the Chuseok holiday might have damaged the scene, he noted, "We confirmed that about 4 to 5 millimeters of rain fell, slightly above forecasts, and we assess that site erosion is negligible."

The military plans to resume its on-site investigation soon. It has sent the clothing worn by personnel at the time of the blast to the National Forensic Service and requested forensic appraisal to determine the exact type and specifications of the mine.

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol