An editorial by Yonhap News Agency questions the delay in investigating a blast believed to have been caused by a land mine in the western sector of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Three South Korean soldiers were injured on September 21 while clearing a search route near the military demarcation line; two were seriously hurt. Investigators did not conduct their first on-site inspection until Sunday, six days later.
The military says it needed time to ensure safety because the explosion occurred close to the demarcation line, where troops were opening a new search route. The editorial argues that the explanation alone does not account for the delay and asks officials to clarify why it took six days. Investigators must establish whether North Korean troops planted the mine or whether it washed down from the North. The Chuseok holiday passed and rain fell during the interval, raising concern that blast traces and debris could be lost or damaged.
The piece compares the case with the 2015 wooden-box mine explosions. Evidence was collected immediately then, and a joint investigation with the United Nations Command concluded six days later that North Korean wooden-box mines were responsible. The military says circumstances differ this time; the editorial calls for a precise account of those differences.
It also points to conflicting accounts of coordination with the United Nations Command. Reports say the command requested a prompt investigation and the South Korean military declined, while the military says it prioritised safety and coordinated with the command. The editorial urges the government to disclose who requested what, when and why decisions were made. Ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jie-won, a former National Intelligence Service director, criticised officials for, in his words, hiding behind bureaucracy. Reports that the secretary of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee received no later explanation are also cited as needing an answer.
The editorial argues that delays can weaken evidence and deepen suspicion. If a North Korean mine caused the blast, North Korea should be held responsible; if South Korean forces mishandled the response, that should also be established and accountability imposed. It says the government’s duty is to determine the facts and accept responsibility rather than simply fend off political criticism.