South Korea recovers 15 suspected North Korean landmines after monsoon floods near border

South Korean authorities have recovered 15 suspected North Korean landmines along coastal areas in Gwanghwa County after heavy monsoon rains and torrential flooding. Officials said the mines were found between 23 July and 3 August and were believed to have been washed over from the inter-Korean border. The discovery has renewed concern about explosive hazards in border regions exposed to severe weather.

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Choi Young-ran, who heads civil defence for Gwanghwa County, said the landmines were discovered along coastal areas and were likely carried by floodwaters during the monsoon season. County officials said in late July that residents should be alert to the danger of mines in coastal areas, and on Wednesday they said they had not ruled out the possibility that more could arrive. South Korea's military had already warned last month that heavy rainfall could wash explosives into rivers crossing the border and cause serious damage if they detonated downstream.

Gwanghwa is an archipelago county at the mouth of the Han River estuary, where the border between North and South Korea runs through waterways and nearby terrain. The area is close to one of the most heavily mined borders in the world, with military data cited by local reporting estimating about 800,000 mines around the Demilitarised Zone. The border has remained a long-running security concern since the 1950-53 war ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

The latest recovery matters because it shows how extreme weather can turn a longstanding military hazard into an immediate civilian risk. Flooding can move explosives beyond their original locations, creating danger for residents, fishermen and people working along the shoreline. In Gwanghwa, one resident said tourist numbers had fallen after a 2015 landmine incident and that locals feared a similar effect could happen again.

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The incident also highlights the wider vulnerability of border communities during the monsoon season. South Korean officials have previously warned that rainfall can push dangerous material into rivers that cross the border, increasing the chance of damage far from the original minefields. The risk is especially sensitive in areas where civilians still work outdoors, including people who gather shellfish by hand along the coast.

What remains unclear is whether additional mines will be found in the coming days and how far any further debris may have travelled. Authorities have said they are monitoring the area and have warned residents to stay cautious. The situation will likely depend on continued weather conditions and whether more floodwater carries explosives into South Korean territory.

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