[Edaily Hwang Byeong Seo· Reporter Lee Hye-ra] Regarding the “explosion suspected to be caused by a landmine” in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the western front, the South Korean military and the United Nations Command (UNC) have begun preliminary inspections for an on-site investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Whether the explosive device was planted by North Korean forces is expected to be the central issue in the full investigation. Criticism also emerged from within the ruling party regarding the government’s response and the disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the incident, with questions raised such as, “Why aren’t you taking proactive measures and instead hiding behind the scenes?”

According to the military on the 27th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the UN Command Military Armistice Commission deployed personnel to the DMZ on the 26th to secure access routes and assess the operational environment for the on-site investigation of the incident. The team that entered the DMZ that day consisted of about 20 people, including the “Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint On-Site Investigation Task Force (TF)” led by Kwon Dae-won, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as UN Command officials such as the Secretary-General of the UN Command Military Armistice Commission, representatives from investigative agencies, and operational troops. The investigation team assessed the safety of the routes to be used and checked surveillance and communication conditions. Given the possibility of additional landmines, the team prioritized confirming conditions that would allow investigators to safely access the site and be evacuated in an emergency before determining the cause of the accident.

This investigation, conducted five days after the incident, served as a preliminary step toward a joint on-site investigation by the ROK military and the UN Command. Around 10:50 a.m. on the 21st, two explosions—presumed to be caused by landmines—occurred in an area adjacent to the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, under the jurisdiction of the Army’s 25th Division, injuring three officers. Among them, two—including the commander of the reconnaissance battalion—sustained serious injuries. It was reported that at the time, the South Korean military was clearing a search route using mine detectors to support the UNC’s on-site investigation of terrain changes near the MDL.

The key focus of this investigation is to determine who planted the landmines that exploded. If it is confirmed that North Korea planted landmines south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), the incident could emerge as a new variable in inter-Korean relations, as it goes beyond a simple violation of the Armistice Agreement and has resulted in casualties among our military personnel. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff is cautioning against hasty conclusions, stating, “The exact location of the incident, the cause of the explosion, and the party responsible for planting the landmines must be verified through on-site investigation.”

The opposition is mounting a daily offensive, arguing that the military’s initial delay in responding has created an opportunity to cover up North Korea’s involvement. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon held a press conference on the 26th and stated, “The United Nations Command had insisted on a swift on-site investigation and even demanded access to the site, but due to opposition from the military, it was ultimately agreed to conduct a joint investigation on the 29th.” He added, “I understand that because public anger and suspicion had been mounting over this decision, the joint investigation was eventually rescheduled for the 27th.”

Criticism of the government’s response has also emerged from within the ruling party. Park Ji-won, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, posted on Facebook on the 26th, saying, “If one of our soldiers was injured in a landmine accident, the truth must be revealed so the public can understand,” and criticized, “Can the government just stand by and watch?” He continued, “Why aren’t you taking proactive action? Why are you hiding behind the scenes?” He emphasized, “Even if our troops were involved in an accident in North Korean territory, the truth must be revealed.” He added, “Don’t just look to the President—the Prime Minister and all government officials must get their act together.”

Meanwhile, the Committee for the People’s Livelihood (CPL), a civic group, filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 26th against nine individuals—including President Lee Jae-myung, National Security Advisor Wi Seong-rak, former Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek, and current Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol—on charges of abuse of authority, dereliction of duty, and general treason. In its complaint, the Committee alleged that the South Korean military failed to respond proactively to the abnormal terrain and suspected landmine laying resulting from the North Korean military’s violation of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) last June.