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Landmine identification reference image. / Courtesy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The military urged caution on July 7 regarding the potential influx of landmines swept away by torrential rains in regions along the inter-Korean border ahead of the summer monsoon season.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on the same day, "We advise vigilance as there are concerns that displaced landmines may drift in through rivers in the event of heavy downpours throughout the border areas."

A large volume of North Korean landmines are buried within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Portions of these minefields are connected to shared inter-Korean waterways—such as the Imjin, Hantan, Hwa, North Han, and Inbuk rivers—which flow into the Han River estuary. The JCS explained that during heavy downpours, buried mines risk getting dislodged and washed down into South Korean territory.

"We advise the public to look out for displaced landmines when engaging in activities near shared inter-Korean waterways," a JCS official stated. "If you discover an unidentified object suspected to be a landmine in these areas, do not touch it under any circumstances and report it immediately to the nearest military unit or police station."

                                                                                                             Lee Han-sol