_:Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung visited a front-line Army unit where a suspected land mine explosion occurred earlier this week, inspecting readiness for an on-site probe, officials said.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Gen. Jin visited the 25th Infantry Division with other field commanders to assess the progress of the impending investigation into the cause of the explosion. The blast, which happened south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the western sector of the DMZ on Monday, resulted in serious injuries to two officers, including one who lost an ankle.

The JCS chief emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation and stressed the preparation of command-and-control and safety procedures to ensure troop safety. The on-site inspection task force, led by the vice JCS chief, is actively working during the Chuseok holiday, with plans for the investigation team to commence its mission once safety measures are established.

The South Korean military reported detecting terrain changes in areas south of the MDL and is consulting with the U.N. Command (UNC) regarding the possibility of North Korean troops planting land mines. The blast took place as a dozen troops were engaged in a route-clearance operation in the DMZ, preceding an on-site inspection by the UNC scheduled for early next week.

Opposition lawmakers have suggested that North Korea may have planted land mines south of the MDL and are urging a prompt inspection. Nonetheless, military authorities have maintained that troop safety is paramount, given the site's location near the heavily fortified inter-Korean border.

Responding to claims of delaying an investigation requested by the UNC, the JCS stated it has been preparing for a joint on-site inspection with the UNC from the incident's early stages, agreeing that safety should be the top priority.