North Korean landmines could float into South Korea, South warns

Seoul, South Korea. North Korean landmines could be washed into South Korea by floodwaters, the South Korean military warned Wednesday, after North Korea recently planted tens of thousands of additional deadly explosives along the border. strongly fortified between rivals.

North Korea’s minelaying is part of border construction underway since April, which also includes adding anti-tank barriers and reinforcing roads. South Korean officials believe North Korea aims to improve its frontline security posture and prevent its soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told local reporters that flooding caused by summer rains could wash mines across the border, adding that North Korea could also deliberately float mines downstream as a provocation.

The content of the briefing was shared with The Associated Press.

Concerns about a possible North Korean provocation have deepened after Kim Yo Jong, The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened new countermeasures against South Korea on Tuesday. efforts of civil activists to launch leaflets over the north in a balloon. North Korea previously responded by flying balloons to transport garbage towards South Korea, which have not caused major damage.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea’s military has suffered “heavy casualties” from about 10 mine explosions and exposure to heat during intense border work.

It is estimated that 2 million mines They are believed to be scattered in and around the Koreas’ 248-kilometre (154 mi) long, 4 kilometer (2.5 mi) wide land border. Experts say both Koreas have mismanaged their mines and do not know exactly how many they have planted or where they are.

It is not unusual for North Korean timber mines to be washed down rivers in summer, causing deadly incidents in South Korea. A 2015 mine explosion, blamed on North Korea, maimed two South Korean soldiers and brought rivals to the brink of armed conflict.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it is also looking at other possible provocations by North Korea, such as firing across the border at incoming South Korean balloons. He said the South Korean military is strengthening its readiness to repel any possible aggression by North Korea.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to efforts by South Korean activists to spread anti-Pyongyang leaflets, viewing them as a threat to its political system and a challenge to its ban on access to foreign news for most of its 26 million people, the report says. experts.

In 2020, North Korea destroyed an unoccupied liaison office built by South Korea on its territory in a furious response to South Korea’s civilian leaflet distribution campaigns. In 2014, North Korea fired at balloons flying toward its territory and South Korea returned fire, although there were no casualties.

Animosity between the two rival Koreas has increased in recent years: North Korea has expanded its provocative weapons tests and South Korea has expanded its military exercises with the United States in a tit-for-tat cycle.

North Korea says it was forced to pursue nuclear weapons to meet military threats from the United States, although the United States and South Korea have firmly said they have no intention of invading the North.