Governor Kim Dong-yeon: "We Will Actively Address the Landmine Issue in Border Areas"

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated that upon hearing media reports about the discovery of dozens of landmines in the Yeoncheon area, he will actively work to resolve the landmine issue threatening the lives of residents in the border region.

On the 15th, Governor Kim posted on Facebook, "A civilian organization conducted landmine detection work in a civilian area of Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and reportedly found 23 landmines in just two hours," expressing concern that "this is a place where civilians and vehicles can freely enter and exit, and where the military completed a landmine removal operation years ago and installed warning signs. The fact that so many landmines were found in such a short time means it is an extremely dangerous situation where casualties could occur at any time."

He continued, "On February 15, the Yeoncheon County Council urged the enactment and revision of laws related to landmines through a resolution," emphasizing, "To protect the lives and property of citizens and to develop northern Gyeonggi as a land of growth and a space of 'Greater Peace,' Gyeonggi Province will actively work to resolve the landmine issue in the border area."

Furthermore, he stated, "Gyeonggi Province has a firm vision to develop northern Gyeonggi as a new land of opportunity and a new growth engine for the Republic of Korea," adding, "We are cultivating the border area, once a symbol of division, into a space of 'Greater Peace' that embraces peace and ecology."

Earlier, the Korea Landmine Removal Research Institute, a civilian landmine detection specialist organization, announced on the 28th of last month that it conducted a two-hour landmine detection operation on a mountain near Baekhak Reservoir in Misan-myeon, Yeoncheon County, and discovered 23 landmines. This area is where the military completed a landmine removal operation in 2013 and even installed warning signs. The discovery of landmines in an area freely accessible to civilians has been received as a shock.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.