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South Korean army sergeant dies at frontline unit with external injuries

By Thomson Reuters Nov 1, 2026 | 10:12 PM

SEOUL, Nov 2 (Reuters) – A South Korean army staff sergeant died after suffering ​external injuries at ‌a frontline unit in Cheorwon near the North Korean border on Monday morning, Seoul’s Defence ‌Ministry ​said.

Military and civilian ⁠investigators were examining ⁠the exact cause and circumstances of his death, the ministry said.

The death comes ​amid heightened tensions along the border after three ⁠South Korean ⁠soldiers were wounded in ​landmine explosions south of the ​Military Demarcation Line on September ‌21.

It was not immediately clear whether the staff sergeant’s death on Monday ⁠was related to the border tensions.

South Korea’s military has said the ⁠mines ‌that caused the explosions ⁠in September were ​laid ‌by North Korea as ​part of ⁠its efforts to fortify the border since 2024, an accusation Pyongyang has denied.

(Reporting by Kyu-seok ShimEditing by ​Ed Davies)