A South Korean soldier injured in an explosion during an artillery firing drill in Cheorwon on Friday has died, South Korea's military said Saturday, raising the death toll to two.
Military officials said a private first class solider who was receiving treatment at Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, died early this morning. He was one of the six servicemen rushed to the hospital following the blast that occurred on the shooting range of a front-line Army unit in Cheorwon, some 88 kilometers north of Seoul, on Friday.
A 27-year-old sergeant first class died while being transported on the day of the incident.
South Korean military said a probe into the cause of the incident is still under way.
The Ministry of Defense on Saturday released a statement saying it offers deep condolences to soldiers who lost their lives and were injured while on duty, as well as their family members.
"In order to keep the honor of soldiers and the value of the armed services, we will do our best to support the probe and other follow-up measures for soldiers." (Yonhap)