Reference images of landmine types planted by North Korea. [Joint Chiefs of Staff]
Reference images of landmine types planted by North Korea. [Joint Chiefs of Staff]

South Korea's military is urging the public to stay alert ahead of the monsoon season, warning that landmines planted by North Korea in the Demilitarized Zone could be swept southward by heavy rainfall.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday that when heavy rain strikes border areas, displaced mines risk being carried into South Korean territory through rivers. "We ask the public to exercise caution," the JCS said.

Large numbers of North Korean landmines are buried throughout the DMZ. In some of those mined areas, rivers shared by the two Koreas — including the Imjin, Hantan, Hwacheon, North Han and Inbuk rivers — flow downstream toward the Han River estuary.

The JCS urged people active near those shared waterways to watch for displaced mines, adding: "If you discover an unidentified object suspected to be a landmine, do not touch it under any circumstances. Please report it to the nearest military unit or police station."

Among the North Korean mine types that have previously been found are wooden-box mines encased in timber and leaf-shaped mines designed to blend in with foliage.

Meanwhile, the military said it plans to reduce casualties from displaced mines to zero by strengthening ties with civilian early-reporting networks, and will keep its disaster-safety network with border-area local governments in a constant state of readiness.


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