[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] 'Hamas-style Improvised Explosive Device' Strikes Seoul Metropolitan Subway Station

US-ROK Joint Training for Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Removal
Deployment of Mine Detectors Around Bubal Station, Gyeonggi-do

U.S. and South Korean forces gathered around Bubal Station in Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province. This was for an improvised explosive device (IED) removal training exercise, part of a national defense drill. More than 30 personnel, including soldiers from the South Korean Army’s 7th Engineer Brigade under the 7th Corps and the U.S. Army’s Explosive Hazards Clearance Team (EHCT), assembled. Various equipment was also deployed. The U.S. military brought mine-clearing unmanned equipment and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs). MRAPs are special vehicles designed with a V-shaped hull bottom to protect against mines and IEDs. The V-shaped hull helps disperse the blast impact to the sides when a mine detonates directly beneath the vehicle. MRAPs are known to have significantly reduced U.S. military casualties caused by mines and IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Israel’s Struggle with IEDs Hindering Gaza Strip Infiltration

IEDs are weapons created by attaching various remote devices or detonators to conventional explosives such as shells, bombs, or gasoline. They are often hidden in roadside curbs, trash bins, plastic bottles, or even dead animals, making them difficult to detect.

One of the challenges faced by the Israeli military during its conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip is IEDs. In June, an Israeli military vehicle was hit by an IED during operations in the Jenin refugee camp, causing injuries. This incident prompted hardliners within the Israeli coalition government to call for a strong response.

The U.S. military has also struggled with IEDs. During the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the biggest threat to U.S. and allied forces was not advanced weaponry but IEDs. Recently, Secretary of Defense Austin stated in the ABC weekend news program ‘This Week’ that "urban combat is extremely difficult" and predicted that "Israel will find it hard to advance easily due to the large number of IEDs."

U.S. Forces Deploy Mine-Resistant Vehicles and Mine-Clearing Robots

This training mission involved locating and removing three simulated IEDs placed both inside and around Bubal Station, which is used by civilians. Soldiers from the South Korean Army’s 7th Engineer Brigade under the 7th Corps began searching the station’s perimeter, including flower beds near the subway, using mine detection and removal devices. Following them, U.S. soldiers thoroughly inspected bicycle racks and other areas. Their expressions were serious, as the U.S. military is well aware of the destructive power of IEDs from overseas deployments.

Suddenly, the soldiers all started running simultaneously. An IED had been discovered on the opposite side. Four U.S. soldiers carrying armored shields advanced, followed in a line by South Korean and U.S. soldiers. The explosive device installed inside a trash bin could not be accessed by opening the lid, so a mine-clearing robot was deployed.

The robot lifted the trash bin and moved it about 30 meters away from the subway station as a safety measure. The South Korean and U.S. soldiers then re-entered the station. They found a small paper box under a bench where civilians sit, but the box was perfectly sealed and difficult to dismantle. It was also hard to insert an endoscope inside the box. A South Korean soldier taped the box to the floor to prevent it from shaking and made a hole. After inserting the endoscope and confirming the explosive inside, they began spraying water on the paper box. They carefully cut out the wet areas with a knife. After 15 minutes of effort, the soldier radioed in.

"Disarmament complete."

Rapid Detection and Disarmament of IEDs Throughout the Subway

Next, the South Korean and U.S. soldiers cautiously approached the subway platform. They found an abandoned bag near the platform. Two soldiers, shielded by armored shields, approached. A South Korean soldier reached between the shields to check if the bag contained TNT (trinitrotoluene), a type of bomb. They repeatedly tested the bag’s exterior with a simple detection sticker, confirming the presence of TNT. The soldiers immediately radioed in and retreated outside the station. Once again, a mine-clearing robot was deployed. The robot picked up the bag from the platform edge and carried it out of the station.

The five-day joint U.S.-South Korean IED detection and response training concluded in this manner. After the exercise, the soldiers shouted "We Go Together" in front of the station. Sergeant Choi Bong-hyun, team leader of the 7th Engineer Brigade, said, "This training was an opportunity to enhance our team’s expertise and a valuable time to share know-how between the U.S. and South Korea." Second Lieutenant Tichenor John, platoon leader of the 11th Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Forces Korea, said, "By cooperating and conducting operations and training together despite various environments, the U.S. and South Korean forces were able to deepen their understanding of each other."