NK Planting Landmines

[Anchor Lead]

There have been signs of the North Korean military planting landmines in the demilitarized zone again. If the mines are washed away by heavy rains southward, South Korean civilians may suffer the worst of it.

[Pkg]

The South Korean military has captured signs of the North Korean army planting land mines en masse in the demilitarized zone. The North usually replaces old land mines with new ones between May and August. But this year it planted mines in eight areas of the demilitarized zone - twice as many as usual. The South Korean military presumes that the number of newly planted land mines has already surpassed four thousand, which significantly exceeds the number planted in previous years. A military official said that if North Korean PMD mines drift southward during rains, the possibility of injuries was high. Anxiety is growing among residents living near streams close to the inter-Korean border, as the water in streams continues to rise due to monsoon rains.

[Soundbite] Hong Sung-man(Gyeonggi-do Prov. Resident) : "People may step on mines or touch them after the water level goes down."

Last year two South Korean soldiers sustained serious injuries when North Korean PMD mines exploded in the demilitarized zone.