Military knew of suspected NK mine-laying a year before DMZ blast

South Korea’s military reported suspected North Korean mine-laying south of the MDL in the 25th Division sector on Sept. 24, 2025, a year before an explosion injured three soldiers. A joint investigation concluded Monday that a North Korean plastic antipersonnel mine caused the Sept. 21 blast. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul acknowledged several locations may contain more mines and said investigations with the UNC would continue. He also addressed military-service exemptions and security risks from smart glasses and connected cars at military facilities.

Satellite imagery collected on Sept. 23, 2025, showed suspected mine-laying in the 25th Division sector, and the assessment was reported to then-JCS Chairman Jin Young-seung the following day.

The military concluded that a plastic antipersonnel mine planted by North Korean troops south of the MDL caused the blast that injured three soldiers clearing a UNC inspection route.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said there were several locations outside the 25th Division sector suspected of containing North Korean mines and that joint investigations with the UNC would establish the facts.

Kang said the ministry’s goal was to gradually reduce military-service exemptions for athletes and artists and ultimately abolish them.

The Defense Ministry said it was considering restrictions on smart glasses and connected vehicles at military premises, as well as artificial intelligence to identify information-gathering devices and security threats.

Published Oct 7, 2026 4:13 pm KST

Kang says ministry aims to phase out service exemptions for athletes, artists

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul answers lawmakers’ questions during a parliamentary audit of the defense ministry at its headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

South Korea’s military identified suspected North Korean mine-laying activity south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and reported it to senior defense officials a year before an explosion injured three soldiers, documents released during a parliamentary audit showed Wednesday.

According to documents the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) submitted to Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party, satellite imagery collected on Sept. 23, 2025, showed suspected mine-laying south of the MDL in the Army’s 25th Division sector. The initial analysis described the area as a “suspected mine-laying section.”

The assessment was reported in person to then-JCS Chairman Jin Young-seung the following day. Then-Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, who was overseas, received a text message on a secure phone and was briefed again after returning. The reports also warned of possible further MDL incursions.

Three soldiers were injured on Sept. 21 while clearing a new search route for a United Nations Command (UNC) field inspection in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Following a joint investigation with the UNC and forensic analysis, the military concluded on Monday that a plastic antipersonnel mine planted by North Korean troops south of the MDL caused the blast.

“The military must explain what measures it has taken since learning a year ago that North Korea’s minefields may have extended into our territory, and why it did not properly explain this to the public,” Yu said.

He accused the military of downplaying the threat as “terrain changes” when he raised concerns last month. The JCS said then that it was consulting the UNC about possible mine-laying, but had not confirmed whether mines were present.

At the audit, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul acknowledged the possibility of more North Korean mines south of the MDL.

“We also see grounds for that assessment,” Kang said when Yu suggested hundreds of mines could remain, based on North Korea’s mine-laying patterns and the extent of its incursions.

Asked whether areas outside the 25th Division’s sector were also suspected of containing mines, he said there were “several locations.”

“We will conduct joint investigations with the UNC to establish the facts and continue taking the necessary measures,” he said.

North Korea on Tuesday dismissed the investigation as a fabrication and threatened a strong response to any intrusion into its territory, “even by 1 millimeter.”

Kang said Pyongyang’s delayed response suggested it had been “considerably taken aback” by Seoul’s actions. He also denied that the South's DMZ operations had been scaled back.

Separately, Kang addressed military service benefits for athletes and artists.

“Our ministry’s goal is to gradually reduce military service exemptions and ultimately abolish them,” he said. The issue resurfaced after some players on the Asian Games gold medal-winning football team celebrated avoiding military service. Kang said he “deeply regretted” their remarks and actions.

Under the current system, Olympic medalists and Asian Games gold medalists who qualify for military service exemption undergo basic military training and serve as sports personnel rather than active-duty soldiers.

In the arts, exemptions cover classical music, dance and "gugak" (traditional Korean music), with eligibility granted for those winning second place or above at a designated international competition, or first place at a domestic competition. Those who place highly enough qualify for transfer to arts personnel status in lieu of active-duty service.

Rep. Chun Ha-ram of the Reform Party speaks during a parliamentary audit of the defense ministry at its headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

Smart glasses, connected cars raise security concerns

The defense ministry was also asked about security risks at military facilities. Rep. Chun Ha-ram of the Reform Party said he entered the defense ministry wearing Chinese-made smart glasses and driving China's BYD electric vehicle without being stopped.

He warned that connected cars equipped with cameras and GPS and linked to the internet could expose sensitive information at military facilities, urging tighter safeguards for both vehicles and smart glasses.

“We recognize the problem and will take action,” Kang said. He said the ministry was considering restrictions on bringing such devices onto military premises and using artificial intelligence to identify information-gathering devices and potential security threats in advance.

韩国军方于2025年9月24日报告称，在第25师辖区军事分界线以南发现疑似朝鲜地雷。一年后，该地发生爆炸，造成三名士兵受伤。周一，联合调查得出结论，9月21日的爆炸是由一枚朝鲜制造的塑料杀伤人员地雷引起的。韩国国防部长康信哲承认，多处地点可能埋有更多地雷，并表示将继续与联合国军司令部进行调查。他还谈到了军事设施中智能眼镜和联网汽车带来的安全隐患，以及兵役豁免等问题。

2025 年 9 月 23 日收集的卫星图像显示，第 25 师辖区内疑似有地雷，第二天，评估结果报告给了当时的参谋长联席会议主席金永胜。

军方得出结论，朝鲜军队在军事分界线以南埋设的一枚塑料杀伤人员地雷引发了爆炸，造成三名正在清理联合国军检查路线的士兵受伤。

国防部长康信哲表示，第25师辖区外有几处地点被怀疑埋有朝鲜地雷，将与联合国军联合调查以查明事实。

康表示，该部的目标是逐步减少运动员和艺术家的兵役豁免，并最终取消这些豁免。

国防部表示，正在考虑限制在军事场所使用智能眼镜和联网车辆，以及利用人工智能识别信息收集设备和安全威胁。

发布于2026年10月7日下午4:13（韩国标准时间）

康表示，该部计划逐步取消运动员和艺术家的服务豁免。

周三，韩国国防部长姜信哲在首尔龙山区国防部总部出席国会国防部审计听证会，并回答议员提问。（联合新闻社）

周三公布的国会审计文件显示，韩国军方在军事分界线（MDL）以南发现了疑似朝鲜布雷活动，并在爆炸造成三名士兵受伤的一年前向高级国防官员报告了此事。

根据联合参谋本部提交给主要反对党国民力量党议员俞永元的文件，2025年9月23日收集的卫星图像显示，陆军第25师辖区内，在军事分界线以南疑似存在布雷点。初步分析将该区域描述为“疑似布雷区”。

评估结果于次日亲自呈报给时任日本联合参谋本部委员长晋永胜。当时身在海外的国防部长安圭培通过一部安全手机收到了短信，并在回国后再次听取了简报。报告还警告称，可能还会发生进一步的越境事件。

9月21日，三名士兵在非军事区为联合国军司令部（UNC）实地检查清理一条新的搜索路线时受伤。经与联合国军司令部联合调查和法医分析后，军方于周一得出结论，爆炸是由朝鲜军队在军事分界线以南埋设的一枚塑料杀伤人员地雷引起的。

“军方必须解释自一年前得知朝鲜的雷区可能延伸到我国领土以来，采取了哪些措施，以及为什么没有向公众做出适当的解释，”余说。

他指责军方在他上个月提出担忧时，将威胁轻描淡写地称为“地形变化”。当时，参谋长联席会议表示，正在就可能埋设地雷一事与联合国军协商，但尚未确认是否存在地雷。

在审计中，国防部长康信哲承认朝鲜有可能在军事分界线以南埋设更多地雷。

“我们也认为这种评估是有依据的，”康在余某提出根据朝鲜的布雷模式和入侵范围，可能仍有数百枚地雷残留时说道。

当被问及第 25 师辖区以外的地区是否也怀疑埋有地雷时，他表示有“几个地点”。

他说：“我们将与北卡罗来纳大学进行联合调查，以查明事实，并继续采取必要措施。”

朝鲜周二驳斥了这项调查，称其为捏造，并威胁要对任何侵犯其领土的行为做出强烈回应，“哪怕只是 1 毫米”。

康表示，平壤迟迟未作回应，表明其对首尔的行动“颇感意外”。他还否认韩国已缩减其在非军事区的行动规模。

另外，康还谈到了运动员和艺术家的兵役福利。

“我们部的目标是逐步减少兵役豁免，最终彻底取消兵役豁免，”他说道。此前，一些亚运会金牌足球队队员庆祝自己逃避兵役，此事再次引发关注。康表示，他对队员们的言论和行为“深感遗憾”。

在现行制度下，符合免服兵役条件的奥运会奖牌获得者和亚运会金牌获得者将接受基础军事训练，并以体育人员身份服役，而不是成为现役军人。

在艺术领域，古典音乐、舞蹈和“国乐”（韩国传统音乐）可获得豁免，前提是必须在指定的国际比赛中获得第二名或以上，或在国内比赛中获得第一名。成绩优异者有资格转为艺术人员身份，以代替现役服役。

周三，改革党议员全夏岚在首尔龙山区国防部总部出席国会听证会并发表讲话。（联合新闻社）

智能眼镜和联网汽车引发安全担忧

国防部也被问及军事设施的安全风险。改革党议员全夏岚表示，他曾戴着中国制造的智能眼镜，驾驶着中国比亚迪电动汽车进入国防部，而没有被拦下。

他警告说，配备摄像头和 GPS 并连接到互联网的联网汽车可能会泄露军事设施中的敏感信息，并敦促对车辆和智能眼镜采取更严格的安全措施。

康表示：“我们认识到这个问题，并将采取行动。” 他说，国防部正在考虑限制将此类设备带入军事场所，并利用人工智能提前识别信息收集设备和潜在的安全威胁。