Landmine Explosion Injures Three South Korean Troops Near North Korea Border

Three South Korean soldiers were injured on Monday after a landmine exploded while they were carrying out an operation in the western sector of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating South Korea and North Korea.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), two of the soldiers were evacuated by helicopter and taken to hospital for treatment. The third soldier and other personnel involved in the operation were also being transferred to hospital for medical examinations.

President Lee Jae Myung said the explosion occurred while soldiers were clearing a patrol route south of the Military Demarcation Line. He wished the injured soldiers a quick recovery and pledged government support for their treatment and rehabilitation.

The DMZ remains one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders. Landmines and unexploded devices left from past military operations have continued to pose a danger to troops on both sides.

South Korean media reports also said North Korean forces resumed fortification work near the border in March, including laying mines and constructing fences. A South Korean lawmaker recently claimed that some North Korean minefields and other installations had crossed the Military Demarcation Line by about 10 to 15 metres at six locations in the western part of the DMZ.