After the mining incident
Seoul blames North Korea for explosion
09/29/2026 – 11:49 amReading time: 2 minutes
A demarcation line around 250 kilometers long separates South from North Korea. After several landmines were detonated south of the border, Seoul announced consequences.
After an explosion probably caused by North Korean mines in the border area between North and South Korea Last week, Seoul accused the neighboring country of violating the ceasefire agreement and announced consequences.
“This is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, and there North Korea “We will take appropriate measures,” said South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin Chul in front of parliament on Tuesday. Three South Korean officers were seriously injured in the incident, one lost his foot.
On Monday, South Korea said the explosion was probably caused by North Korean mines. “We believe that North Korean landmines most likely caused the explosion,” said South Korea’s Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kwon Dae Won.
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The mines exploded about ten meters south of the demarcation line between the two countries, Kwon explained. North Korean forces “recently laid mines” around ten meters away. Accordingly, two landmines exploded. A third, unexploded mine was discovered when the soldiers retreated after the explosion.
Subject to reaction
Seoul announced consequences. If the investigation concludes that Pyongyang was responsible, “North Korea would bear full responsibility for the incident, and our armed forces will take appropriate and appropriate measures,” Kwon said, without providing further details. “All necessary options are on the table,” he added.
South Korea and North Korea are officially still at war; the Korean War only ended with an armistice in 1953. The two countries are separated by the Demilitarized Zone, which is approximately four kilometers wide. The demarcation line runs in the middle of this strip riddled with mines.
It is one of the most heavily fortified and mined borders in the world. An estimated 800,000 landmines are said to be in the ground there. Some are said to date from the time of the war.
