South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited soldiers injured in a recent landmine explosion inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) and pledged to ensure they receive due compensation. Lee made the unexpected visit to a military hospital on Wednesday, where he met the wounded soldiers and offered words of comfort to them and their families, presidential spokesperson Kim Sung-wan said.

The soldiers were injured in two mine explosions on September 21 on the southern side of the DMZ, the military buffer zone separating South Korea and North Korea. Three soldiers were wounded in the incident, with two suffering serious injuries, according to Yonhap News Agency as cited in the report. The incident has since prompted investigations into the origin of the mines.

A joint investigation by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command (UNC) determined that the mines had been planted by North Korean forces. The UNC described the mine-laying as a violation of the Korean armistice agreement that brought an end to the 1950-53 Korean War. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, rejected the findings and accused Seoul of producing the results with malicious intent.

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During his meeting with the wounded soldiers, Lee asked officials about the compensation available to personnel injured in action. He instructed authorities to ensure that the soldiers were sufficiently compensated, stressing that support for wounded service members was directly linked to the morale of the armed forces. He also directed officials to review assistance measures and inform the soldiers' families about the results.

Lee also told the soldiers to concentrate on their recovery and pledged full support for their treatment and rehabilitation, as well as their continued service in the military. The soldiers expressed a desire to remain in the armed forces, with the presidential spokesperson quoting them as saying they wanted to continue serving the country in any position.

The presidential visit was conducted without photographs or media attendance, with the spokesperson saying the decision was made out of consideration for the young children of the wounded soldiers. The visit and compensation discussions come as authorities continue to address the consequences of the DMZ landmine incident and the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured personnel.

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