Photo source: News1
An analysis showed that North Korea has laid as many as 1 million landmines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) since 2024.
Korean military authorities reported this to the National Assembly on October 23. An official from the Ministry of National Defense said, “It is estimated that North Korea has laid a significant number of landmines north of the MDL after 2024.”
This is interpreted as part of the ongoing 'border fortification' work after Chairman Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean relations as 'two hostile countries' at the end of 2023.
‘Lines and barriers are for nailing down hostile countries.’
The North Korean military's planting of land mines is evaluated as a series of measures following the declaration of 'two hostile countries'.
The declaration is not just 'words', but is becoming a 'visible border' with mines and barriers. Analysis continues that it has the effect of preventing defections from North Korea and at the same time making residents think of South Korea as a 'hostile country'.
North Korea has since been carrying out 'border line fortification' work in the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) area, which will begin in earnest in April 2024.
It's not just land mines. The creation of barren land, the construction of barriers, the installation of tactical roads and barbed wire, and the blocking of the Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line connections are being carried out simultaneously. The number of landmines buried in the DMZ has been said to be about 2 million, including Korean mines.
Previously, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young also mentioned the DMZ landmine issue during a government audit on the 7th and stated that the total number of landmines was "2 million."
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The problem is that it is unclear whether the 960,000 rounds are included in the 2 million rounds. It is pointed out that the possibility that 960,000 rounds were added to the existing 2 million rounds cannot be ruled out.
Some say that we should be cautious in reading landmine figures.
Kim Jin-moo, a former senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyzes, told the BBC, "The military authorities must have watched the entire process of laying landmines," and pointed out, "We must first determine whether the 960,000 rounds were buried south of the MDL or were an estimate based on North Korea's movements." This means that if it was buried in the south, it must be confirmed when, to what extent, and what type of burial it was.
In particular, he mentioned that the point where the mine exploded was 50m inside the MDL and pointed out, "As 50m is a virtually meaningless distance in the 2km wide DMZ, we must consider the possibility that it went deeper."
He analyzed that the meaning of these mines and barriers “can be found in symbolism rather than military effectiveness.” He explained that it was a device to prevent defections from North Korea and at the same time nail South Korea as a 'hostile country'. He emphasized that while it was not appropriate to punish residents who watched South Korean movies during the period when inter-Korean exchanges were active, if South Korea is defined as a complete enemy, "the Korean Wave can be severely punished."
In addition, the effects of these measures on residents were also mentioned. He added, “If you create an internal crisis by emphasizing the severance of inter-Korean relations and the risk of war, the brainwashed North Korean people will have no choice but to rely on the authorities,” adding, “The planting of land mines, the installation of barriers, and even Kim Yo-jong’s inspection of the fortified southern border are all part of creating such an atmosphere.”
Previously, North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency reported on the 21st that "North Korea's Defense Ministry Advisor Park Jong-cheon inspected key points of the southern border fortification construction site on the 20th along with Workers' Party Secretary Ri Il-hwan, Party Director Kim Yo-jong, and key commanders of the People's Army General Staff.
image copyrightKCNA/Reuters
‘Landmines that crossed the line’
The problem is that the North Korean military's planting of landmines is leading to direct damage. On the 21st of last month, a North Korean landmine exploded in the area south of the MDL, injuring three South Korean soldiers.
Soldiers of the 25th Division were working to open a search route so that the United Nations Command could conduct an on-site investigation into an area where North Korea was suspected of having buried landmines south of the MDL.
South Korean military authorities determined that some of the landmines buried by North Korea in the DMZ crossed over to the south of the MDL.
Kim Seong-yoon, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Intelligence and Analysis Division, said in a press briefing on the 5th, "Several areas have been identified south of the MDL where the North Korean military is believed to have laid mines."
In addition, Minister Kang Shin-cheol agreed with Rep. Yoo Yong-won (People Power Party) who said during the National Assembly audit on the 7th, "It is believed that there are hundreds of North Korean landmines buried just south of the MDL."
In relation to this, Rep. Yoo Yong-won told the BBC, “The fact that North Korea has laid nearly 1 million landmines in the DMZ over the past two years has significant military and security implications.”
In particular, he explained that through so-called 'border fortification' such as laying massive land mines, "North Korea can be seen as having virtually incorporated the demilitarized zone north of the MDL, which had been a buffer zone, into its own territory."
As a result, Rep. Yoo added, “Not only does it make it more difficult to remove North Korean mines south of the MDL, but South Korea’s operations within the DMZ are also bound to be hindered.”
Currently, the South Korean government is conducting a special investigation with the United Nations Command to determine whether there are additional North Korean minefields in addition to the 25th Division where the accident occurred.
Tensions are growing as the North Korean military repeatedly crosses the MDL for reasons such as fortification work. South Korean military authorities are responding with warning broadcasts and firing warning shots, but North Korea has protested that these measures threaten the safety of North Korean soldiers and has announced the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts to South Korea.
UNC 'DMZ is a dangerous space'
Meanwhile, Scott Winter, Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command (Australian Army Lieutenant General), said regarding this mine explosion, "It shows that no matter what activities we carry out in that space (DMZ), careful and thorough planning and dedication are necessary."
He said this in a podcast conversation with the British Royal Joint Military Institute (RUSI) released on the 22nd, saying, "It is important to plan and communicate carefully to avoid being seen as an escalation or provocation."
However, he took a cautious stance on the incident itself, saying, "The investigation is in progress," but emphasized that, as communication is conducted twice a day through the UNC-North Korean military channel, if it is found to be a violation of the Armistice Agreement, "We will notify you in the most stern way possible."
Meanwhile, the Korean government sent a two-page letter to the Chairman of the UN Security Council in the name of Ambassador to the UN Cha Ji-hoon on the 22nd (local time). Greece chairs the Security Council this month.
The letter reportedly contained the results of an investigation that the explosion was caused by a landmine buried by the North Korean military, as well as the fact that this was a "violation of the armistice agreement." They also called for an apology from North Korea, responsible action, and dialogue to prevent escalation of tensions.
The Korean side also shared the fact that it was sent to the 193 member countries at the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
When Lee Dong-jun, a counselor at the Permanent Mission to Geneva, urged North Korea to comply with the armistice agreement and engage in dialogue, the North Korean representative claimed, "The risk of a new war is spreading along North Korea's southern border due to South Korea's reckless behavior," and "South Korea is trying to tarnish our (North Korea's) international image by holding people accountable for a unilaterally manipulated, pre-planned, play-like situation."
The letter was approved by the Security Council Chairman and circulated to the 15 members that day, and is scheduled to be posted on the Security Council website within the next few days. However, it is only a procedure to record the Korean government's position as an official record and does not lead to a separate resolution or action to condemn. The Korean government also sent a letter to the Chairman of the Security Council during the wooden box land mine provocation in August 2015.
