South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Monday, Sept. 28, that Seoul would take “appropriate, substantial and corresponding” measures if investigators confirm that recent explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) were caused by land mines planted by North Korea. Kang spoke to reporters after meeting Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, at the National Assembly.
The incident occurred last Monday south of the Military Demarcation Line inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas. It involved two separate blasts that severely wounded two South Korean soldiers. North Korean land mines are suspected, but investigators have not yet determined the cause.
Asked about reports that soldiers saw a North Korean wooden-box mine near the site, Kang said there were also statements indicating the device was not a wooden-box mine. He said its exact nature remained unclear and that an on-site investigation was underway. The government, he said, would explain the findings transparently once details were established.