South Korea Recovers Wooden-Box Landmines Washed Ashore Near Inter-Korean Border
The landmine boxes were recovered in an archipelago at the mouth of the Han River estuary that straddles the inter-Korean border, approximately 31 miles (50 km) west-northwest of Seoul.
SOUTH KOREA — South Korean local authorities and military units recovered wooden-box landmines along the coast of Ganghwa County in Incheon between late July and early August, attributing the devices to displacement by monsoon rains in North Korea.
Eleven Nations Issue Joint Alert on North Korean IT Worker Revenue Schemes Funding Weapons Programs
The landmine boxes were recovered in an archipelago at the mouth of the Han River estuary that straddles the inter-Korean border, approximately 31 miles (50 km) west-northwest of Seoul.
Ganghwa County reported a total of 12 wooden-box landmines discovered from July 24 through August 6. Military personnel recovered three floating devices near Hwangcheon Port on July 27 after a fisherman’s report; one box was empty and the other two contained active mines that were detonated on site.
Additional finds included one recovered by patrols on the Seodo-myeon coast on July 24 and another captured on military closed-circuit television along the Gyodong-myeon coast the same day.
Choi Young-ran, head of civil defense for Ganghwa County, said that 15 suspected North Korean landmines had been discovered along coastal areas between July 23 and August 3 and that all had been recovered.
The county and military units estimate the devices drifted south on ocean currents after heavy rainfall in North Korean areas. The 2nd Marine Division launched search operations focused on Ganghwa Island, western islands, major beaches, and coastal zones, conducting day-and-night checks at ports, harbors, and civilian-access areas.
The county installed safety banners at 42 coastal and port sites and issued public alerts telling residents and visitors not to approach or touch any suspicious objects and to report them immediately to military units or police.
Ganghwa County Warns Tourists And Residents Not To Approach Or Touch Suspicious Objects
According to Ganghwa County, wooden-box landmines continued to appear and tourists and residents visiting coastal attractions and trails must not approach or touch any suspicious objects and must report them at once. The county added that it would work closely with military authorities to maintain a safe environment.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) had issued public cautions on July 7 and July 23 about the risk of North Korean landmines becoming dislodged by heavy rains and entering shared rivers that flow toward the Han River estuary.
On July 7 the JCS noted the potential for mines planted on the northern side of the Demilitarized Zone to wash south via the Imjin, Hantan, Bukhan, and related waterways. On July 23, JCS spokesperson Capt.
