“Hundreds of North Korean mines laid south of the MDL” ... 2 million mines buried in the DMZ

[Financial News] A claim was raised during the parliamentary audit of the Ministry of National Defense that North Korean troops had already laid around several hundred mines south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) between North and South Korea. At the Unification Ministry’s audit, it was also said that 2 million mines between the two Koreas had been laid in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), prompting calls for countermeasures.
At the parliamentary audit held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, Minister Kang Shin-cheol responded to People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won’s comment that “I believe at least several hundred North Korean mines may have been laid south of the MDL alone” by saying, “There are aspects that we also view that way,” while noting that the matter needed to be verified with the United Nations Command (UNC).
Asked whether there were other suspected areas south of the MDL where North Korean mines had been laid, besides the 25th Division, where an explosion occurred, Minister Kang answered only, “Several locations.” He also said, “We plan to conduct a joint investigation with the UNC, confirm the facts, and then continue taking the necessary measures.”
The Ministry of National Defense said it would send a notice to North Korea in the future, strongly urging it to cease violations of the Armistice Agreement and restore the area to its original condition.
Regarding the 21st Division area on the eastern front, where North Korean troops have increasingly crossed the line, Minister Kang said, “It appears they believe it is their territory and are patrolling it.” North Korean troops who cross 10 meters south of the MDL every day to patrol are reportedly entering unarmed; most wear helmets but carry no rifles.
Minister Kang said, “We are responding firmly every day,” and raised the need for a joint on-site investigation involving North and South Korea and the UNC.
Questions about mine accidents in the DMZ continued during the Unification Ministry’s audit. At the audit held that day at the Inter-Korean Dialogue Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young said, “There are 2 million mines in the DMZ. They say it will take 100–200 years to remove them all. We must eliminate conflict and hostility.” He also warned of the danger, noting that neither North nor South Korea has yet joined an international convention against anti-personnel mines. The DMZ has been known as one of the most densely mined areas in the world, with 2.3 mines laid by the two Koreas per square meter.
Democratic Party lawmaker Cha Ji-ho said, “Anti-personnel mines are banned under international law because they cannot be controlled. The places that do not comply with that law are South Korea and North Korea.” Minister Jeong also said, “We should ensure that North and South Korea can join the convention banning anti-personnel mines.”
Questions also continued about the offensive nature of mines laid by North Korea south of the MDL and the Unification Ministry’s response measures.
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon asked the Unification Ministry for its position on the offensive nature of North Korean troops’ mines, saying, “Mines aren’t meant to catch water deer, are they?” Minister Jeong drew a distinction, saying, “It cannot be characterized as a mine attack.” He also maintained that it was an accidental incident, not a mine provocation.
Opposition lawmakers also asked why Minister Jeong had opposed cyber sanctions against North Korea proposed by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at the National Security Council (NSC). People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo said, “North Korea’s cyber hacking is a serious problem. It steals money from countries around the world every year,” arguing that sanctions were necessary.
Minister Jeong replied, “The Unification Ministry’s position is that cyber sanctions are not an appropriate response to mine explosions. However, cyber sanctions are under discussion at the NSC.”
A tense war of nerves between ruling and opposition lawmakers broke out from the start of the parliamentary audit that day. People Power Party lawmaker Park Chung-kwon said, “Foreign Minister Cho Hyun lied,” and argued that Cho should be reported for perjury. The allegation was that Cho’s rebuttal at the Foreign Ministry’s audit the previous day—that there had been no clash with Minister Jeong over sanctions against North Korea at the NSC meeting held on the 1st—constituted perjury. Addressing the controversy over a clash at the NSC, Minister Jeong said, “The Unification Ministry has its reason for existing, and the Foreign Ministry has its reason for existing. It is natural for our opinions to differ. It would be strange if they were the same.”

[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo and Lee Jong-yoon Reporter