"Soldiers Say They Saw North Korean Wooden-Box Mines"; ROK JCS Says Explosion Site Investigation Needed

[Financial News] Several people near the site of an unidentified explosion in the western-front Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) said they had seen wooden-box mines used by North Korea. It was confirmed that several soldiers who were at the scene of the DMZ explosion on the 21st gave statements saying they had seen wooden-box mines. However, some statements reportedly indicated that the mines were of a different type. The military said it would defer a determination until an accurate site investigation and forensic examination were completed.
Hwang Ju-bong, chief of the ROK JCS Operations Division 1, said at a Ministry of National Defense briefing on the 28th, "Some statements indicated that the mines' shape resembled a wooden-box mine and that the material appeared to be plastic, while another person gave a statement suggesting that they were presumed to be a different type."
Hwang added, "There are several mines whose shape and color, among other characteristics, resemble those of wooden-box mines," but replied, "We will confirm this clearly at the scene."
The soldiers who said the mines were wooden-box mines had received specialized training to identify the shape and material characteristics of both enemy and friendly mines. However, the ROK JCS said an additional site investigation was needed to determine whether the wooden-box mines they saw had been buried or washed away by flooding. It also explained that the site needed to be inspected to verify testimony that one or two unexploded wooden-box mines were present.
The military also said it would determine the cause through the National Forensic Service's examination results and thoroughly establish the type and appearance of the mines.
Regarding concerns that the three military officers injured in the DMZ explosion may not have been wearing mine-protective overshoes, the military said an investigation was underway.
Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-chul told reporters at the National Assembly that day, "There are also statements indicating that it was not a wooden-box mine. That makes it difficult to identify the type with certainty, but the site is being investigated today, so we will provide a transparent explanation to the public as soon as the matter is organized as quickly as possible."
When asked who had decided on the military's initial plan to conduct the site investigation on the 29th, Kang replied, "The site investigation is something that the UNC, ROK JCS, and the units at the scene carry out after assessing the situation together. We will also provide an accurate briefing on that today."
Responding to opposition criticism alleging that the incident had been downplayed and concealed and that the response had been delayed, Minister Kang said, "That's not the case. How could the military conceal anything? We will proceed transparently," adding, "There has definitely been no deliberate delay or cover-up." 

[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter