A South Korean soldier on patrol duty was injured this morning by an explosion near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), the de facto border between the two Koreas. The South Korean Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident. The soldier was airlifted for emergency treatment and is now in stable condition, with no life-threatening injuries.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.

South Korean soldiers at the DMZ in 2023. Photo: AFP

South Korean soldiers at the DMZ in 2023. Photo: AFP

South Korean media, citing an unnamed official, reported that the explosion occurred in the western Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The victim was identified as a 24-year-old army soldier performing mine-sweeping duty. The soldier, who was wearing protective mine-resistant gear, appears to have suffered a fractured ankle from the blast.

North Korean officials have not commented on the information.

The MDL lies within the DMZ, a buffer zone that is 4 km wide and 250 km long. This area is covered with minefields, barbed wire fences, and anti-tank traps. Despite its name, the "demilitarized" zone is one of the world's most heavily armed and militarized areas.

This week, South Korea proposed military talks with North Korea, marking the first time such a proposal has been made in many years. Seoul stated that many MDL markers, which were established under the 1953 armistice agreement, have disappeared over time. This disappearance has led to "different perceptions of boundaries in certain areas between the two sides."

Location of the DMZ and MDL. Graphics: Reuters

Location of the DMZ and MDL. Graphics: Reuters

Technically, South Korea and North Korea are still at war. The 1950-1953 conflict ended with an armistice agreement, not a peace treaty. In 2015, two South Korean soldiers were seriously injured by a mine while patrolling south of the boundary. The South Korean military accused North Korea of planting additional mines, but Pyongyang denied the claim.

By Pham Giang (Based on reports from AFP, Korea Times)