Defense minister to visit DMZ blast victims as first official outing

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul will visit the Armed Forces Capital Hospital as his first official outing since taking office, to comfort soldiers seriously wounded in a suspected landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone.

According to military sources Tuesday, Kang plans to visit the Armed Forces Capital Hospital within the next day or two, after chairing a meeting of senior commanders from across the armed forces and completing internal briefings.

In his inaugural address Tuesday, Kang opened with a reference to "comrades who are dedicating themselves at this very moment to defend the Republic of Korea — and those who, in doing so, now lie in hospital beds," expressing concern and respect for the wounded troops.

Speaking to reporters after the inauguration ceremony, Kang said the most urgent priority regarding the suspected DMZ landmine blast was "to fulfill our responsibility so that the wounded comrades and their families can focus on treatment and recovery." He added that the military would "leave no possibility off the table, thoroughly determine the cause, and take all necessary follow-up measures and responses."

He said the most effective way to conduct the investigation would be to draw on the memories of those involved, but acknowledged that "as you know, it is difficult to immediately question soldiers who have suffered trauma."

The incident occurred Monday at around 10:50 a.m. on the western front under the jurisdiction of the Army's 25th Division, where three military officers were conducting a trail-clearing operation. Two of the three suffered serious injuries and were airlifted by emergency helicopter to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital, where they underwent surgery. The battalion commander of the search unit lost a foot in the blast, while another officer sustained fractures. A third officer suffered minor injuries and has since been discharged from the hospital.

Jang Do-young, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the incident occurred while the soldiers were carrying out a mission to clear a trail for reconnaissance into an area suspected of containing landmines laid by North Korea after crossing the MDL.