Military declines to confirm reports of 6 sites, citing security; says North's activity 'not normal procedure'

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday it has identified terrain changes in forward areas related to North Korean troops crossing the MDL and is closely consulting with UN Command on the possibility that mines have been laid. [Herald DB]
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday it has identified terrain changes in forward areas related to North Korean troops crossing the MDL and is closely consulting with UN Command on the possibility that mines have been laid. [Herald DB]

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it has identified terrain changes in forward areas linked to North Korean troops crossing the Military Demarcation Line and is closely consulting with UN Command on the possibility that mines have been laid south of the MDL.

Jang Do-young, the Joint Chiefs' public affairs director, said at the Ministry of National Defense's regular briefing Monday that the military is closely monitoring North Korea's MDL crossings and other activities and taking principled measures in accordance with operational procedures. "We have identified some terrain changes, and we are in close consultation with UN Command regarding the possibility that mines have been laid," he said.

Earlier, reports emerged claiming that North Korea had crossed the MDL and opened minefields at as many as six locations within a single forward division's area. In response, Jang said he could not confirm whether six sites were involved, citing security reasons.

Jang added that the military is reviewing and implementing various measures, including operational responses and capability reinforcements. His remarks suggested steps are being taken to supplement existing response systems.

He also said the military does not consider North Korea's activities to be normal procedure.

North Korean troops have crossed the MDL on multiple occasions this year, and signs of mine-laying south of the MDL have been detected several times during land-clearing operations in the demilitarized zone near Goseong, Gangwon Province.

At the time, the military pointed to possible errors in the GPS devices used by North Korean troops, leaning toward mechanical miscalculation rather than deliberate incursion.


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