Author(s):
Chayer Amelie <amelie@icbl.org> .
Thursday 12 August 2010
Geneva, 12 August 2010 -- The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is concerned about recent reports of a landmine incident that cost the life of a South Korean man and injured another, in early August, on the border with North Korea. According to several media reports including Yonhap News Agency and The Korea Herald, dozens of North Korean landmines have drifted south along streams that connect with South Korea due to recent heavy rain falls. It is apparently the first time that such a large number of mines have moved from North Korea. The two men possibly picked up one of the mines on their way back from fishing at the Imjin River, despite warnings issued in the area by the South Korean military.
"To our knowledge this is the first time ever North Korea's antipersonnel mines inflicted injuries to South Korean civilians," said John Kim, Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor researcher for South Korea. "The mine incident report, involving North Korea's old-style antipersonnel mines, exposes the inherent danger caused to civilians living near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) by the mines planted in massive numbers across the DMZ by both North Korea and South Korea."
The ICBL calls on both North Korea and South Korea to join the Mine Ban Treaty, to renounce the use of landmine forever and to engage in clearance of the border, which remains among the world's most heavily mined areas. As a priority, to minimize the risks of further casualties, populations near the river should be taught to avoid the danger posed by these mines.
Officials from both countries have stated in the past that they support the humanitarian aims of the Mine Ban Treaty but are not ready to accede due to their security situation. According to Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, South Korea has produced antipersonnel mines in recent years, and North Korea is also considered a producer of mines. Both countries are believed to have substantial stockpiles of the weapon. Neither of them has laid new antipersonnel mines in recent years.
Additional information on landmines in North Korea: http://www.the-monitor.org/cp/KP/2010
Additional information on landmines in South Korea: http://www.the-monitor.org/cp/KR/2010