Three South Korean military officers were injured after a blast occurred on Monday, September 21, in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea. The incident took place in the western sector of the DMZ during an operation to inspect a suspected minefield. South Korea’s military considers it highly likely that the explosion was triggered by a landmine.
Two of the officers sustained more serious injuries, with one reportedly losing an ankle according to South Korean sources. However, none of their lives are in danger.
Troops were investigating suspicious terrain changes
The incident happened south of the Military Demarcation Line, which divides the two Koreas.
Prior to the explosion, the South Korean military had noticed terrain changes in some areas, raising suspicions that North Korean troops may have planted mines south of the border.
About twelve soldiers were using detectors to prepare a safe passage ahead of a planned inspection by United Nations Command officials.
It was during this clearing operation that the explosion occurred.
The investigation by the military is ongoing, with several scenarios under consideration.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the device was a mine laid by North Korean units, an older South Korean mine, or an explosive that may have shifted location due to water runoff after heavy rainfall.
One officer lost an ankle
The blast struck three South Korean officers.
Two suffered serious injuries, with a military helicopter dispatched to evacuate them to a hospital. One of the officers lost an ankle as a result of the explosion.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the injured personnel were equipped with protective gear and equipment for demining operations.
According to available information, their condition is not life-threatening.
Tensions remain high in the DMZ, in part due to repeated border crossings. Aktualizovane.sk previously reported on an incident in which South Korean forces detained a person suspected of defecting from North Korea directly within the DMZ.
North Korea strengthens border fortifications
The security situation in the area has been changing for the past two years.
Since 2024, North Korea has been reinforcing fortifications along the Military Demarcation Line, constructing new barriers, expanding barbed wire fences, and, according to the South Korean military, laying additional mines.
Pyongyang began expanding these measures after Kim Jong-un declared at the end of 2023 that inter-Korean relations should be considered ties between two hostile states.
In recent months, North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the Military Demarcation Line.
The South Korean military reports that in August alone there were over 20 such incidents. By comparison, there were 17 cases recorded for the whole of 2025.
Some of these crossings may be connected to work on border fortifications, but each incident raises the risk of accidental armed clashes.
DMZ is among the most dangerous borders globally
The Demilitarized Zone spans roughly 248 kilometers in length and is about four kilometers wide.
Despite its name, it is one of the most heavily militarized areas in the world. Both sides maintain military units, defenses, observation posts, and extensive minefields.
It is estimated that as many as two million landmines could be present along the broader border area.
The danger comes not only from new explosives; older mines can shift over decades due to erosion, flooding, or landslides.
This complicates mine-clearing operations and routine military inspections.
The broader context of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula is also related to Pyongyang’s growing military capabilities. In August, South Korea estimated that North Korea could possess between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons.
Similar incidents have had grave consequences
The September 21 explosion is the first serious incident on the South Korean side of the DMZ after a long interval.
In 2015, three wooden mines reportedly planted by North Korea exploded on the South Korean side, according to Seoul.
On that occasion, one South Korean soldier lost both legs and another lost an ankle.
Another explosion occurred in November 2025, when a soldier suffered a broken ankle during a mine search operation.
As a result, the current incident is being investigated especially thoroughly by South Korea’s armed forces.
Seoul to conduct detailed investigation
The South Korean military plans to carry out a thorough inspection of the blast site together with the United Nations Command, once the area is secured.
The goal is to determine the exact location of the explosion and the origin of the mine.
Until the investigation is complete, Seoul does not want to place blame on North Korea.
Nonetheless, the incident comes at a time when Pyongyang continues to expand its missile and nuclear capabilities, with bilateral relations on the peninsula remaining highly tense.
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The explosion underlines that the border between North and South Korea remains hazardous even in the absence of direct armed conflict. Landmines, new fortifications, and more frequent troop movements near the demarcation line create an environment where a single incident can quickly escalate tensions between the two countries.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
