North Korean land mines could be swept into South Korea by flooding, South Korea’s military warned yesterday as the North has placed tens of thousands of additional deadly explosives along the rivals’ heavily fortified border.
North Korea’s minelaying is part of construction at the border that has been going on since April, which also includes adding anti-tank barriers and reinforcing roads.
South Korean officials have said that North Korea aims to boost its frontline security posture, and prevent its soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea.
Photo: AP
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff told local reporters that flooding caused by summer rainfall could wash the mines over the border, adding that North Korea might also deliberately float mines downriver as a provocation.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea’s military has suffered “many casualties” from about 10 mine explosions and heat exposure during the intense border works.
An estimated 2 million mines are believed to be strewn in and around the Koreas’ 248km-long and 4km-wide land border.
Experts say that both sides have poorly managed their mines and do not know exactly how many they have planted or where they are.
It is not unusual for wooden North Korean mine boxes to wash downriver in summer flooding, causing deadly incidents in South Korea.
A 2015 mine explosion blamed on North Korea maimed two South Korean soldiers and pushed the rivals to the brink of an armed conflict.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said that it was also looking at other possible provocations by North Korea, such as firing across the border at incoming South Korean balloons.
It said that the South Korean military is boosting its readiness to repel any potential aggression by North Korea.
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