S. Korean military, UNC conduct joint probe on DMZ blast site: JCS

South Korea’s military and the U.N. Command conducted a joint on-site investigation at a suspected mine blast site inside the DMZ on Sunday. The team could not reach the actual incident site and will resume the probe later, after two officers were seriously injured in the blast near Paju last week. The JCS said the investigation will continue with additional inspections to provide an objective and transparent account.

A survey team of about 40 personnel reached the vicinity of the suspected explosion site but did not reach the actual site of the incident.

The joint survey ran from around 9 a.m. until sundown and included South Korean troops, the UNC’s Military Armistice Commission and relevant investigative agencies.

The blast occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line in the border city of Paju and left two officers seriously injured.

The JCS said the team paused the operation because of the risk from unidentified land mines and the extreme fatigue of the personnel involved.

Published Sep 27, 2026 7:59 pm KST

Updated Sep 27, 2026 8:54 pm KST

South Korean military and United Nations Command personnel secure an access route inside the Demilitarized Zone, Saturday, ahead of an on-site probe into a suspected land mine explosion. Courtesy of Joint Chiefs of Staff

South Korea's military has conducted a joint on-site investigation with the U.N. Command (UNC) into the cause of a suspected mine blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) last week, with further probes planned, officials said Sunday.

A survey team comprising some 40 personnel reached the vicinity of the suspected explosion site inside the DMZ but failed to reach the actual site of the incident, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a text message sent to reporters.

The joint probe comes just six days after the explosion occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) separating the two Koreas, leaving two officers seriously injured.

The survey team — comprising South Korean troops, the UNC's Military Armistice Commission and relevant investigative agencies — inspected the area using mine detectors and conducted route-clearance operations in the DMZ from around 9 a.m. until sundown, according to the JCS.

However, the team decided to resume the operation at a later date, citing the high risk posed by the possibility of unidentified land mines in the area and the extreme fatigue of personnel involved in the operation, it added.

"The South Korean military and the UNC plan to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident through additional on-site inspections, and offer an objective and transparent account of the findings to the public," the JCS said.

Since the incident, the South Korean military has been gearing up for a joint probe of the explosion site with the UNC.

The blast, which occurred near the MDL in the border city of Paju, north of Seoul, happened as a dozen troops were returning from a route-clearance operation in the DMZ, according to the JCS.

The troops were clearing the route to make way for an on-site inspection by the UNC, initially scheduled for early this week, of areas south of the MDL suspected of containing land mines planted by North Korean troops.

On Saturday, the JCS said it has conducted a preliminary inspection of the site in coordination with the UNC to secure an access route before launching the joint probe into Monday's explosion.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul visited the 25th Infantry Division overseeing the western section of the heavily fortified border on Wednesday, followed by the JCS operations chief and the JCS chairman on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The South Korean military has faced mounting criticism in the past week over allegations that it has intentionally delayed investigations into the suspected land mine blast.

韩国军方和联合国军司令部周日对非军事区内一处疑似地雷爆炸地点进行了联合现场调查。由于上周在坡州附近发生的爆炸造成两名军官重伤，调查小组未能抵达实际爆炸地点，并将择日恢复调查。韩国联合参谋本部表示，调查将继续进行，并进行更多勘察，以确保调查结果客观透明。

一支由约 40 人组成的调查小组到达了疑似爆炸地点附近，但并未到达事故的实际发生地点。

联合调查从上午 9 点左右持续到日落，参与调查的有韩国军队、联合国军军事停战委员会和相关调查机构。

爆炸发生在边境城市坡州市军事分界线以南，造成两名军官重伤。

联合参谋部表示，由于存在不明地雷的风险以及参与行动人员极度疲劳，该小组暂停了行动。

发布于2026年9月27日晚上7:59（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月27日晚上8:54（韩国标准时间）

周六，韩国军方和联合国军司令部人员在非军事区内封锁了一条通道，准备对一起疑似地雷爆炸事件进行现场调查。图片由韩国联合参谋本部提供。

韩国军方官员周日表示，军方已与联合国军司令部（UNC）就上周非军事区（DMZ）内疑似地雷爆炸的原因进行了联合现场调查，并计划进行进一步调查。

联合参谋本部（JCS）在发给记者的短信中表示，一个由约 40 名人员组成的调查小组到达了非军事区内疑似爆炸地点附近，但未能到达事件的实际地点。

此次联合调查距离朝韩军事分界线（MDL）以南发生的爆炸事件仅六天，爆炸造成两名军官重伤。

据韩国联合参谋本部称，调查小组由韩国军队、联合国军军事停战委员会和相关调查机构组成，从上午 9 点左右到日落，使用探雷器检查了非军事区，并进行了道路清障作业。

声明还补充说，由于该地区可能存在不明地雷，风险较高，而且参与行动的人员已经非常疲惫，因此该小组决定择日恢复行动。

“韩国军方和联合国军计划通过进一步的现场检查，对事件原因进行彻底调查，并向公众提供客观透明的调查结果。”联合参谋本部表示。

自事件发生以来，韩国军方一直在准备与联合国军对爆炸现场进行联合调查。

据联合参谋本部称，爆炸发生在首尔以北的边境城市坡州的军事分界线附近，当时十几名士兵正在从非军事区的道路清障行动返回途中。

部队正在清理道路，以便联合国军对军事分界线以南的地区进行实地考察。此次实地考察原定于本周初进行，考察地点疑似埋有朝鲜军队埋设的地雷。

周六，联合参谋部表示，已与北卡罗来纳大学协调对现场进行了初步检查，以确保在对周一的爆炸事件展开联合调查之前，能够获得一条进入路线。

国防部长康信哲周三视察了负责守卫戒备森严的西部边境的第25步兵师，随后参谋本部作战部长和参谋本部会长分别于周四和周五视察了该师。

过去一周，韩国军方因被指控故意拖延对疑似地雷爆炸事件的调查而面临越来越多的批评。