South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a prompt and comprehensive investigation into a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers last week.
During a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on Tuesday, Lee called for a transparent investigation in cooperation with the UN Command. His comments followed preliminary military findings that indicated a North Korean landmine was highly likely to have caused the blast.
The explosion occurred on Sept. 21 while South Korean troops were clearing a route ahead of a joint inspection by South Korean forces and the UN Command into suspected North Korean mine-laying activities south of the Military Demarcation Line.
Two soldiers suffered serious injuries, while another sustained minor wounds.
Lee said the government would take appropriate action based on the investigation’s findings. He also urged officials and the public to avoid spreading unfounded conspiracy theories, stressing that national security should not become a subject of partisan disputes.
The president separately called for stronger independent defense capabilities, including advanced weapons systems. He also ordered faster development of nuclear-powered submarines and hypersonic missiles.
Lee further directed officials to turn the results of his recent US and Mexico visits into concrete benefits for South Korea and said the government would focus on housing, employment and financial support for low-income households.
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