Military commands in Seoul and Washington have concluded an urgent bilateral defense consultation following the completion of a multinational forensic investigation into a recent landmine detonation within the Demilitarized Zone.

The incident, which injured two South Korean soldiers conducting routine reconnaissance along sovereign perimeter pathways, prompted United Nations Command investigators to examine soil disruptions and fragment residues.

The formal inquiry determined that modern wooden-box anti-personnel devices had been newly planted south of the Military Demarcation Line, representing a direct breach of the 1953 Armistice Agreement.

"Combined forces maintain absolute vigilance. Any provocations that threaten the stability of the demarcation boundary will be met with measured, resolute defense readiness."
— United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command Seoul

Preserving Deterrence and Crisis Hotlines

During high-level bilateral calls, defense ministers reaffirmed the strength of the ROK-U.S. mutual defense treaty, committing to increase joint airborne reconnaissance patrols along the DMZ corridor.

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized that while South Korea's military remains fully prepared to counter any aggression, diplomatic and military communication hotlines should remain open to prevent tactical misunderstandings from escalating into wider confrontation.