South Korea’s military has discovered another North Korean resin anti-personnel land mine near the site of last week’s blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul said the mine appeared to have been buried, adding to the investigation into the explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers.Key HighlightsSouth Korean forces found a North Korean resin anti-personnel mine near the DMZ blast site.Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul said the mine was buried by North Korea.The mine was discovered about one metre from the site of the second explosion.The Sept. 21 blast injured three South Korean soldiers.A joint South Korean-UN Command investigation is continuing.North Korean Land Mine Found Near DMZ Blast SiteThe South Korean military discovered the land mine on September 29 during a joint on-site investigation with the United Nations Command (UNC). According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the mine was found around one metre behind the location of the second explosion.The military identified it as a North Korean resin anti-personnel mine and said it was different from the mine that soldiers reported seeing when they were withdrawing from the area after the explosions.Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul told South Korea’s National Assembly that the newly discovered mine was buried. He indicated that it was unlikely to have simply moved into the area naturally and linked its presence to North Korea’s border fortification activities.September 21 DMZ Explosion Injured Three SoldiersThe investigation follows two explosions on September 21 inside the DMZ. Three South Korean military personnel were injured while troops were working to clear a route for a joint inspection with the United Nations Command.South Korea’s military previously said there was a high likelihood that North Korean land mines caused the blast. Investigators cited the crater patterns, flame characteristics, injuries and forensic evidence, including TNT traces and brown synthetic material consistent with North Korean resin mines.The explosion occurred roughly 10 metres south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).Military Finds Another Mine at the SiteBefore the latest discovery, South Korean officials believed three mines may have been present at the blast location. Two had exploded, while soldiers said they had seen another suspected mine while moving away from the area.The latest discovery means investigators have now identified an additional mine near the explosion site. South Korean officials are continuing to examine whether the mines were placed as part of North Korea’s efforts to strengthen its border positions.The exact circumstances surrounding when the mine was buried remain part of the investigation. South Korea’s military has said the final findings will be announced after the joint investigation with the UNC is completed.South Korea Continues InvestigationSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and said necessary measures would be taken based on the findings.The discovery of the buried mine provides additional physical evidence for investigators as they examine the cause of the September 21 DMZ blast. However, the joint investigation remains ongoing, and further findings are expected before the case is formally concluded.
