SEOUL, South Korea — Three South Korean military officers were injured Monday in an unexplained explosion while conducting an operation in the western sector of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
\n\nTwo of the officers were evacuated by helicopter. The third was expected to be transported by road before also being airlifted, the JCS said in a statement, without providing further details on their condition.
\n\nSouth Korean media reported the blast might have been caused by a mine.
\n\nThe explosion took place south of the Military Demarcation Line within the DMZ, the JCS said. The heavily fortified border has separated the countries since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
\n\nMine explosions and other blasts are a recurring hazard in and around the DMZ, where legacy devices and suspected stray mines have periodically injured military personnel on both sides.
\n\nNorth Korean forces resumed fortification work starting in March near the border, including mine-laying and fence construction, media reports said.
\n\nEarlier this month, South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon said minefields and other installations built by North Korea crossed the Military Demarcation Line by about 30 to…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/