Seoul:South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for a swift and thorough investigation into a land mine explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers inside the Demilitarized Zone last week.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lee made these remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House, following preliminary military findings that suggested a North Korean land mine likely caused the explosion. He emphasized the need for military authorities to transparently uncover the truth behind the incident, working closely with the UN Command.

The explosion took place on September 21 as troops were preparing a route for a joint inspection by the South Korean military and UN Command of suspected North Korean mine-laying activities south of the Military Demarcation Line. The incident resulted in serious injuries to two soldiers, while another soldier suffered minor injuries.

President Lee also cautioned against the dissemination of 'groundless conspiracy theories' regarding the event, stressing that national security should not be used as a partisan issue.

In a related statement, South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul described the explosion as a 'clear violation' of the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. He highlighted that if the blast is confirmed to be caused by North Korean-planted land mines, North Korea would bear responsibility, and appropriate measures would be taken.

A joint team of South Korean military officials and the UN Command's Military Armistice Commission has conducted an on-site inspection to determine the explosion's cause.

President Lee also advocated for enhancing South Koreas self-reliant defense with advanced weaponry, including the development of nuclear-powered submarines and hypersonic missiles. Additionally, he urged officials to convert the results of his recent visits to the US and Mexico into substantial national benefits.