[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North Korea More Than Doubled Landmine Deployment

Increased Quantity and Area of Buried Items Compared to Pre-Inter-Korean Military Agreement
Random Locations Including Mountains and Wastelands Near Inter-Korean Connecting Roads

It has been confirmed that North Korea has approximately doubled the amount and area of landmines planted in the front-line area. This means that landmines are being randomly restored not only on the inter-Korean connecting roads where mines were removed before the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement but also in the surrounding areas.

In 2019, soldiers from the South-North Joint Remains Excavation Task Force conducted mine clearance and preliminary excavation in the Hwaseolmari Hill area, our side within the Civilian Control Line in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province.
Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the 17th, a military official stated, "Recently, landmines have been planted not only on roads connecting North and South Korea but also in nearby mountains and wastelands," adding, "We estimate that the amount and area of landmines planted have more than doubled compared to before the September 19, 2018 Inter-Korean Military Agreement."

According to the September 19, 2018 Inter-Korean Military Agreement, landmines on roads were removed for the purpose of joint excavation of remains between the two Koreas. Later, in January of this year, Chairman Kim Jong-un stated in his speech at the Supreme People's Assembly, "Step-by-step measures must be implemented to thoroughly separate the conditions for North-South connection in the border area."

North Korea began closing roads and planting landmines. Mines were detected on tactical roads within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near Hwaseolmari Hill in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, as well as on the Gyeongui Line road connected in 2004 and the Donghae Line road opened in 2005. Landmines were planted on all three inter-Korean connecting roads: the Gyeongui Line, Donghae Line, and Hwaseolmari Hill tactical road. The Gyeongui Line land route is considered a symbol of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation. The fact that North Korea planted mines near the Gyeongui Line land route is interpreted as an intention to sever inter-Korean relations. North Korea also blocked the Gyeongui Line land route during the South Korea-U.S. military exercise (Key Resolve) in March 2009.

Recently, mine-laying operations have been underway in the northern side of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), stretching 248 km east to west. Mines are being planted not only on roads but also in nearby mountainous areas and wastelands using heavy equipment and troops. Surveillance posts (GPs) within the DMZ have also been reinforced. According to the September 19 Military Agreement five years ago, North Korea destroyed 10 out of 11 GPs. Some of the destroyed North Korean GPs have been restored as concrete posts, which is interpreted as a sign that they intend to actively operate GPs going forward.

A military official said, "The military is closely monitoring North Korean activities and maintaining military readiness while cooperating closely with the United Nations Command."

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