Cheong Wa Dae says DMZ blast probe is thorough, transparent

Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday (local time) that the investigation into a suspected land mine explosion on the western front demilitarized zone is being conducted objectively, swiftly and thoroughly, as President Lee Jae Myung was on a state visit to Mexico.

A senior presidential official made the remarks at a press briefing at a media center in Mexico City, pushing back against opposition claims that the government was deliberately dragging its feet on the probe. "There is absolutely no cover-up, no hidden agenda, nothing being concealed — not even a hint of it," the official said. "Such claims have no basis."

The official added, "If you wait just a little longer, we will bring you additional results to report as soon as possible."

The suspected land mine explosion occurred Monday morning. Three soldiers, including a search battalion commander, were seriously wounded in the incident.

The statement appeared to be a preemptive move to counter growing opposition-led claims that the government was intentionally delaying disclosure of the cause of the blast.

The official called the incident "an unfortunate event" and said a thorough investigation was needed to determine the facts. "If it turns out to be a land mine, we need to find out what kind it is — whether it was planted by North Korea or how it came to be there," the official said.

The official also explained why the investigation was taking time, noting that the site is not a safe location. "In past mine explosions, they always occurred along regularly used search routes, so investigators could be deployed immediately," the official said. "This time, the site was a newly opened route — a high-risk area — so we are approaching it with great caution."

The official stressed that the investigation is being conducted jointly with the UN Command.

Asked about Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul's position of keeping "all possibilities open" regarding who planted the mine, the official said the presidential office shared the same view. "We received that information through the proper channel and have no additional information beyond that," the official said.

On media reports citing expert assessments that the explosion was caused by a North Korean-planted mine — such as a box mine — the official cautioned against premature conclusions. "This is an extremely complex and technical matter," the official said. "Even an expert who has not visited the scene could be misleading."