South Korea’s military and the United Nations Command have begun a joint investigation into a landmine explosion that injured three soldiers near the Demilitarised Zone separating South Korea from North Korea.
About 40 officials took part in the initial search on Saturday, focusing on the area where the explosion occurred on September 21, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The investigation is expected to determine what caused the blast and establish the possible origin of the explosive device.
South Korean authorities said the findings would be made public after the investigation is completed, following calls from opposition lawmakers for greater clarity over the incident.
The three soldiers were injured while clearing a patrol route in the western section of the heavily fortified DMZ. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said shortly after the incident that a landmine was responsible for the explosion.
The DMZ, which separates the two Koreas, remains one of the most heavily militarised areas in the world. Landmines and other unexploded devices have remained a persistent danger in the region decades after the Korean War.
The latest incident has also raised questions over whether the device could have originated from North Korea. South Korean officials have not publicly established where the mine came from, and the investigation is expected to examine that possibility.
North Korean troops have reportedly resumed work on fortifications along parts of the border since March, including laying mines and constructing fences, according to South Korean media reports.
Military officials said further searches would be conducted around the blast site as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The investigation comes amid continued security tensions along the Korean Peninsula, where military activity and border fortification efforts have increased the risks faced by troops operating around the DMZ.
