North Korean drifting mines put island residents on edge in Ganghwa-gun

Marines from the 2nd Marine Division receive a briefing on mine-detection procedures at the entrance to Dwittjangsul Beach on Jumundo island in Seodo-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, on Wednesday. A series of North Korean land mines, believed to have been swept away by heavy rains late last month, have been found along the coastlines of Ganghwa-gun. [Yonhap]

"There could be mines buried in the tidal flats, so I'm too anxious to go in."

On Wednesday, a notice reading "Access to all coastal areas prohibited" was posted at the entrance to Dwittjangsul Beach on Jumundo island in Seodo-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon.

A safety banner stretched across the access road served in effect as a control line.

The measures were put in place to protect residents and tourists after land mines believed to have drifted from North Korea were found in quick succession along the coastlines of Jumundo and other islands in Ganghwa-gun following heavy rains.

According to Yonhap, 16 mines across 14 separate incidents — suspected to have originated from North Korea — were found between July 23 and Monday along the shores of Ganghwado, Gyodongdo, Jumundo, Boreumdo and other areas near the truce line in Ganghwa-gun.

Just two days earlier, a village chief found an anti-personnel mine on Jokaegol Beach on Boreumdo.

The access restrictions are not legally enforced, but for residents who depend on the tidal flats for their livelihoods, it is no exaggeration to say the situation has become a matter of survival.

Dwittjangsul Beach on Jumundo island is closed to the public after North Korean drifting mines were found in the area. [Yonhap]

The season for harvesting surf clams has arrived, and bare-hand fishers would normally be heading out to the tidal flats in force — but fear that mines carried in by ocean currents could be buried anywhere has brought work to a halt.

A resident of Jumundo, identified only by surname, said both wooden box mines and anti-personnel mines have been turning up, and that the possibility of mines buried beneath the tidal flats makes it impossible to venture out. "There's no one to blame, but the frustration is hard to bear," the resident said.

Residents who run guesthouses and offer tidal flat experiences for tourists have also been hit hard.

Despite the peak summer holiday season, tourist traffic dried up after the mines were found, and most visitors who had booked accommodations canceled their reservations after being told they could not enter the water or take part in tidal flat activities.

A notice at the entrance to Dwittjangsul Beach on Jumundo island in Seodo-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, on Wednesday announces that the area is closed due to the discovery of North Korean drifting mines. [Yonhap]

The 2nd Marine Division is conducting intensive search operations focused on the western islands of Ganghwa-gun to ensure residents' safety and ease their concerns.

When a mine is found — whether by a resident or search personnel — an explosive ordnance disposal team is dispatched to detonate it remotely in a controlled manner.

Ganghwa-gun plans to reassess the threat level depending on whether additional mines surface during the spring tide period from Friday through Sunday, when sea levels will be at their highest.

If no further mines are discovered, fishing and beach access are expected to resume.

Residents' anxiety, however, is likely to persist for now.

One resident said that while visible mines are being cleared and searches are underway, no one can know when or how more mines might drift in from the sea. "Even if no more are found, I plan to stay out of the water for the time being," the resident said.

husn7@heraldcorp.com