North Korean ‘Leaf Mines’ Could Infiltrate South Korea Through Rivers

North Korea has recently introduced a new strategy to infiltrate South Korea by turning to rivers as a means for spreading danger, deploying leaf-like landmines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to menace its southern neighbor.

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reports that North Korea has been laying landmines in the DMZ for several months, undeterred by harsh weather conditions like scorching heat and monsoon rains.

These leaf-like mines contain about 40 grams of explosives, a lethal amount capable of causing serious injury. Their green and brown coloration makes them nearly invisible to the naked eye. South Korea’s MND revealed that over ten North Korean soldiers have already been injured or killed by these mines during their installation, underscoring their perilous nature.

“The North Korean military laid the mines without considering disaster prevention measures against heavy rain,” stated South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). They warned that heavy rains could wash these mines into South Korea, particularly through shared rivers such as the Imjin River, Yeokgokcheon Stream, Hwagang River, and Inbukcheon Stream. This raises fears that floods or intentional water releases from North Korean dams could scatter these mines further into South Korean territory.

North Korea has a history of discharging water from its dams without notice, having released water from the Hwanggang Dam nine times since 2009 and from the Imnam Dam 14 times since 2002. The JCS suspects that these water releases could be a cover for deploying landmines.

“This is why there are rumors that the monsoon front is moving northward, making it possible that they are releasing water under the pretext of failing to control the dam water level, or that they are intentionally dropping landmines,” the MND stated.

The MND urges South Korean citizens to exercise extreme caution when near rivers shared with the North. They advise the public to avoid contact with unidentified objects and report any suspicious items to the nearest military unit or police station.

Since early 2024, North Korea has intensified its provocations against South Korea. In January, North Korea fired over 200 artillery shells towards South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island. In June, South Korean forces fired warning shots after North Korean troops crossed the shared border.