South Korean Military Confirms North Korean Mines Caused DMZ Blast
The South Korean military has confirmed that a recent mine explosion in the DMZ was caused by North Korean mines, raising tensions.
The South Korean military has confirmed that a recent mine explosion in the DMZ was caused by North Korean mines, raising tensions.
On October 5, 2026, the South Korean military announced that a land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was caused by mines planted by North Korea. This incident, which occurred on September 21, resulted in injuries to three South Korean soldiers, two of whom suffered critical injuries.
The military conducted a joint investigation with the U.N. Command and confirmed that the mines involved were resin antipersonnel mines, consistent with those used by North Korea. The mines were found to be buried just below the surface, approximately 10 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
In response to the findings, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) conducted a mine-clearing operation at the site of the explosion. The military has vowed to continue these operations if North Korea does not remove the mines voluntarily.
The incident has heightened tensions between the two Koreas, with South Korea calling for accountability from the North. North Korea, however, has denied responsibility for the blast, with Kim Yo-jong dismissing the findings as a fabrication and threatening retaliation if actions are taken against them.
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