DMZ minefield probe stalls, blame game erupts

After conducting safety checks on the 26th, the military and the UN Command deployed more than 40 personnel on the 27th to carry out the first joint on-site investigation of the DMZ explosion.

However, they could not reach the blast origin, which lies in an unidentified minefield with no clearing route and is extremely dangerous. The incident occurred while clearing a route for the UN Command's on-site investigation, and it was reported that the environment was so hazardous that even the reconnaissance battalion commander, wearing protective gear, was seriously injured.

Democratic Party of Korea spokesperson Lee Ju-hee said the PPP labeled the incident a clear result of North Korean sovereignty infringement and provocation before investigation results had even come out.

According to the Democratic Party, the PPP raised an absurd conspiracy theory that the government timed the investigation in consideration of the UN Command's message to North Korea, and Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok continued the political attack by mentioning treason, impeachment, and even arrest. Spokesperson Lee said that concealing facts is impossible in a joint investigation involving the UN Command, and criticized the PPP for prioritizing political attacks over scientific investigation.

Military authorities are conducting forensic analysis of the secured evidence at the National Forensic Service to establish the truth, keeping all possibilities open, including whether North Korea deliberately buried the mines or whether they were lost explosives.

Chairman Jin Sung-joon of the National Defense Committee and other Democratic Party members of the committee plan to visit the 25th Division today (the 28th) to closely inspect the progress of the joint investigation, the cause of the incident, measures to prevent recurrence, and the working conditions of service members. The party said it will take full responsibility to pursue the cause of the incident and improve service members' working conditions.