Defense minister visits DMZ blast soldiers at Armed Forces Capital Hospital

Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-chul visited the Armed Forces Trauma Center at Armed Forces Capital Hospital on Wednesday morning to meet with soldiers and their families who were wounded in a suspected landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone along the western front.

During meetings with the injured soldiers and their guardians, Kang said, "You are true heroes who were wounded while trying to save your comrades during a mission," and pledged that the ministry would "take responsibility and support you through treatment to the very end."

A full investigation into the exact circumstances of the explosion is still ongoing, but during Kang's meeting with the families it emerged that the search battalion commander had risked a secondary explosion to save fellow soldiers. The battalion commander, who underwent surgery and is currently recovering, reportedly asked first about the safety of the other soldiers who had been deployed with him that day.

The Ministry of National Defense said it would "continuously monitor the soldiers' recovery and take steps to ensure that all necessary support is provided without interruption until they are able to return to their daily lives."

On Monday, at around 10:50 a.m., two of three military officers conducting a trail-clearing operation in the western front sector under the Army's 25th Division were seriously wounded and airlifted by emergency helicopter to Armed Forces Capital Hospital, where they underwent surgery. Of the two hospitalized, the search battalion commander suffered a severe injury resulting in the amputation of an ankle, while the other officer sustained fractures. A third officer suffered minor injuries and has since been discharged.