ROK JCS Chairman Visits Unit Where 'DMZ Mine Explosion' Occurred: "Checks Preparations for On-Site Investigation"

[Financial News] Jin Young-seung, chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS), visited the Army's 25th Division on the 25th, the day of Chuseok, to check preparations for an on-site investigation into an explosion suspected to have been caused by a land mine in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the western front.
According to the ROK JCS and other sources, Jin joined Lee Sang-ryeol, commander of the Republic of Korea Army Ground Operations Command, the acting commander of I Corps, the commander of the 25th Division and other relevant commanders, along with the Joint On-Site Investigation Task Force, to review the progress of the investigation and operational readiness.
Before the on-site investigation, Jin ordered the military to thoroughly establish safety measures, including command and control, communications and rehearsals. He particularly stressed that a thorough investigation must be conducted while ensuring the safety of service members.
The Joint On-Site Investigation Task Force, headed by Kwon Dae-won, vice chairman of the ROK JCS, continues to carry out its mission over the Chuseok holiday. The on-site investigation team plans to begin its full-scale investigation as soon as preparations, including safety measures, are complete.
However, concerns have also been raised that evidence at the accident site could be washed away as rain fell in some areas, including Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where the accident occurred. The concern is that mines could be washed away or the terrain could change because there is a stream near the accident site.
The military authorities said that ensuring the safety of service members taking part in the investigation is the priority, as the accident site is a dangerous area adjacent to the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
The ROK JCS also rejected as untrue claims by some that the South Korean military had dragged its feet in response to the United Nations Command (UNC)'s request for an investigation.
An ROK JCS official said, "From the outset of the incident, the ROK military and the UNC have been preparing for the joint on-site investigation, sharing the view that securing safety measures in advance must be given top priority." The official added that the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) visited the 25th Division on the 22nd to verify the circumstances of the explosion and discuss matters related to the joint on-site investigation with the ROK military.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter