# South Korean military investigation into DMZ explosion > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-military-explosion-in-the-dmz > Updated: 2026-09-25T06:04:19.000Z. Sources: 56. Developments: 3. On September 21, 2026, an explosion occurred in the western sector of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during a search and route-clearance operation by the South Korean Army’s 25th Infantry Division. The blast, which took place near the Military Demarcation Line in the Paju region, injured three military officers, including a search battalion commander and a sergeant, with two sustaining serious injuries. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has formed a special task force to conduct a joint field investigation in coordination with the United Nations Command (UNC). The JCS has maintained that South Korean KUH-1M helicopters were used for emergency transport, refuting claims that U.S. aircraft were involved. The investigation timeline has become a central point of domestic political contention. While the ruling People Power Party has criticized proposed site visits by lawmakers as a political ‘show,’ opposition members are taking direct action. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo announced that members of the National Defense Committee plan to visit the site on September 28 to conduct a verification. Additionally, independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon has alleged that the military initially refused requests from the UNC for a rapid investigation, suggesting the delay may be driven by political considerations. ## Claims - Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo announced that National Defense Committee members will visit the accident site on the 28th. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The JCS has formed a task force led by the Vice Chairman to conduct a joint field investigation. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The landmine explosion occurred in a high-risk area near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) while clearing a new search route. (corroborated by 2 sources) - A battalion commander sustained severe injuries, including a severed ankle, during the explosion. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Injured personnel were evacuated using South Korean KUH-1M (Medion) helicopters, not US helicopters. (single source) - The South Korean military allegedly refused an initial request from the UN Command for a rapid field investigation. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-25: DMZ landmine explosion sparks investigation and political dispute South Korean political and military leaders are clashing over the investigation of a landmine explosion in the DMZ that severely injured soldiers, amid debates over site visits and investigation delays. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-military-forms-task-force-to-investigate-dmz-explosion ### 2026-09-22: South Korean officer found dead following DMZ explosion; China purges top military officials South Korean authorities are investigating the death of an army officer following a DMZ mine explosion, while China has stripped high-ranking military officials Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of their posts. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-officer-found-dead-following-dmz-explosion-china-purges-top-military-officials ### 2026-09-21: South Korean officers injured in DMZ explosion Three South Korean military officers were injured in a suspected landmine explosion during a route-clearance operation in the western DMZ near the Military Demarcation Line. 50 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/explosion-in-dmz-injures-two-south-korean-soldiers --- Cite as: South Korean military investigation into DMZ explosion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-military-explosion-in-the-dmz