North Korean land mines likely flowed south with runoff from monsoon rains

The South Korean government has warned that heavy monsoon rains may have washed landmines from the Demilitarized Zone into rivers flowing across the inter-Korean border.

Some of the mines North Korea planted across its side of the heavily fortified border appear to have been displaced by flooding, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Capt. Jang Do-young said during a regular news briefing Thursday.

“There is a high probability that the displaced land mines could enter South Korean territory through rivers shared by the two Koreas, and if they explode, significant damage is expected,” Jang said.

“Do not touch any objects suspected to be a land mine, and please report it to the nearest military base or police station,” he said.

The Korean Peninsula’s monsoon season typically begins in late June and lasts through late July, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

North Korea on Monday issued its fourth heavy rain warning since the start of the season, forecasting roughly 6 inches of rain through Tuesday in areas surrounding the inter-Korean border, Yonhap News Agency reported that day.

Satellite videos indicated North Korea may have released water from the Hwanggang Dam, roughly 26 miles north of the inter-Korean border, without prior notice, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said in a press release Monday.

The water level at Pilseung Bridge — the northernmost point of the Imjin River near the inter-border in South Korea — reached 30.3 inches Monday and is expected to gradually rise, according to the ministry.

An evacuation order is issued when the water level reaches 39.3 inches, it said.

In September 2009, six South Koreans were killed after Pyongyang released water from the Hwanggang Dam without prior notice. Although North Korea agreed the following month to provide advanced notice before future dam release, it has done so intermittently.