N. Korea likely planted 960,000 land mines along inter-Korean border since 2024: lawmakers

The reported figure is 960,000 land mines planted by North Korea along the inter-Korean border since 2024. That is a major increase in the physical hazards facing troops operating near the Military Demarcation Line, or MDL.

South Korea’s military gave the estimate to the National Assembly. Lawmakers on the parliamentary intelligence and defense committees shared the figure with Yonhap. The reported mine-laying is part of broader border work that includes barbed-wire fences and anti-tank barriers.

North Korea began stepping up these reinforcements in April 2024. The move followed Kim Jong-un’s declaration that North and South Korea were “two states hostile to each other.” The mine estimate comes as soldiers have repeatedly moved near or across the MDL, and as a September 21 explosion injured three South Korean soldiers.

The Military Demarcation Line is the inter-Korean border line separating North and South Korea. The article explains that this line sits inside the Demilitarized Zone, commonly called the DMZ. In simple terms, the MDL is the specific boundary, while the DMZ is the broader zone around it.

This relationship matters because military activity is concentrated around both features. North Korean troops have been installing fences, laying mines, and building anti-tank barriers along the MDL. They have also moved close to, and sometimes crossed, the line.

Those movements have led South Korea’s military to issue warning broadcasts or fire warning shots under its operational standards. The heavily fortified setting makes the distinction important: the MDL marks the boundary, while the surrounding DMZ contains much of the defensive infrastructure and mine danger. Experts estimate more than 2 million mines across the entire DMZ.

The reported 960,000 mines represent nearly half of the more than 2 million mines believed to be planted throughout the entire DMZ. Using 2 million as the minimum comparison point, 960,000 equals 48 percent. Because the total is stated as more than 2 million, the true share is slightly below 48 percent.

The figures measure different things. The 960,000 estimate concerns mines North Korea has planted along the inter-Korean border since 2024. The larger estimate covers the entire DMZ and includes mines planted by South Korean forces as well as North Korean forces.

This comparison shows the scale of the recent activity without proving that all mines occupy the same locations. The article presents the new estimate as part of border fortification, while the broader total reflects years of mine-laying across the DMZ. Together, the figures indicate a substantial and persistent hazard along the border.

North Korea increased border fortification after Kim Jong-un declared in late 2023 that relations with Seoul involved “two states hostile to each other.” The country’s military began stepping up reinforcements in April 2024. The timing links the construction work to a sharper official stance toward South Korea.

The reported measures include installing barbed-wire fences, laying mines, and erecting anti-tank barriers along the MDL. These are different physical obstacles, but together they strengthen control of movement across the border. North Korean troops have also moved close to, or crossed, the MDL on numerous occasions.

The buildup has raised the risk of confrontation and accidental escalation. South Korean forces have responded with warning broadcasts or warning shots under operational standards. The September 21 mine explosion, which injured three South Korean soldiers, added to tensions while both sides continued to dispute responsibility.

The September 21 land mine explosion injured three South Korean soldiers. The incident occurred during a period of expanding North Korean border fortification, including mine-laying and the construction of fences and anti-tank barriers.

South Korea investigated the blast and concluded that North Korean antipersonnel mines caused the explosion. That finding led Seoul to assign responsibility to Pyongyang. North Korea rejected the conclusion, creating a direct dispute over the incident’s cause.

The explosion heightened already serious tensions along the border. North Korea vehemently denied responsibility, accused Seoul of fabricating the investigation, and threatened to resume anti-Seoul loudspeaker broadcasts. It also threatened to deploy tactical weapons along the border. The event therefore became both a safety incident and a broader political and military confrontation.

South Korea blames North Korea because its investigation concluded that North Korean antipersonnel mines caused the September 21 explosion. The blast injured three South Korean soldiers, giving Seoul a direct military and political reason to identify the suspected source.

Pyongyang rejects that conclusion. North Korea has vehemently denied responsibility and accused Seoul of fabricating the investigation to pin blame on the regime. The two governments therefore disagree not only about accountability, but also about the credibility of the evidence and the investigation itself.

The dispute has worsened an already tense border situation. North Korea threatened to resume anti-Seoul loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy tactical weapons along the border. Meanwhile, troops have continued moving near or across the MDL, prompting South Korean warning broadcasts or warning shots. The blast’s disputed attribution has therefore increased the risk of further confrontation.

Antipersonnel land mines are explosive devices intended to injure or kill people. In general, pressure, movement, or disturbance activates a mine, causing an explosion that can strike soldiers or civilians nearby. The article identifies North Korean antipersonnel mines as the cause of the September 21 blast.

Their danger does not end when fighting or construction stops. Mines can remain buried and armed for long periods. Vegetation, weather, shifting soil, and unclear records can make their locations difficult to identify. Anyone walking, working, or moving equipment through an affected area may trigger one.

That lasting danger helps explain why the reported 960,000 mines matter beyond the current military standoff. The article also cites expert estimates of more than 2 million mines across the DMZ, including South Korean mines. The larger total means the border’s hazard could persist even if immediate tensions later ease.