Three South Korean military officers wounded in explosion near border | News
Three South Korean military officers were injured in an explosion in the western part of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates North and South Korea, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The incident occurred on Monday, but the Ministry of Defence has not yet confirmed the cause of the explosion. Local media reports suggest it may have been triggered by a landmine.
Two of the injured officers were evacuated by helicopter, while a third was transported by ground before being airlifted. They are currently receiving treatment at a military hospital near Seoul.
The DMZ, a 248-kilometer (154-mile) long and 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) wide strip, is one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. It is estimated that around 2 million landmines are located within and around the area, which is further secured by barbed wire fences, tank traps, and combat troops from both sides. The DMZ remains a legacy of the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953 and resulted in an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.
Mine explosions and other incidents continue to pose risks in the DMZ, as old devices and stray mines periodically injure military personnel from both North and South Korea. There are growing concerns in South Korea regarding increased activity from North Korean troops along the military demarcation line, which has been observed amid elevated tensions and a strengthening of North Korea’s border defenses.
