New Landmines Killing North Korean Defectors
Five North Koreans from North Hamgyong Province were injured or killed by landmines while recently attempting to cross the Tumen River into China. The group of would-be-defectors reportedly divided into two groups since defecting as a large group would be more dangerous. This tragic accident happened only a month after three people were similarly killed by a landmine during a defection attempt near Musan, reflecting how “people tried to cross despite being aware of the land mines in the area. That’s how desperate they were to get across the river.” As economic conditions worsen in the North, a source told DailyNK that some people were not defecting, but trying to “make some money in China. But as they were crossing the river in the hope of making a living, they were blown to bits, and now they won’t even get a funeral.”
The China-North Korea border is known to be home to many landmines. Narrow sections of the river where defection attempts are more common often have higher concentrations of landmines, including old landmines that have been buried for some time and often fail to explode even when stepped on. The recent casualties, therefore, indicate that North Korean authorities have been placing new landmines near the crossing with China since August to keep people from defecting.
LANDMINES AND RELATIONS WITH THE SOUTH
More than a million landmines were buried in North Korea’s border areas since the Korean War, and it is a known fact that civilians and soldiers have been killed or injured by them. Landmine attacks have been a longstanding trigger that caused strain to inter-Korean relations. For instance, in 2015, South Korea’s Defense Ministry accused the North of crossing the demilitarized zone and planting landmines that maimed two South Korean soldiers. The South condemned the North for escalating pre-existing tensions and even resumed some anti-Pyongyang broadcasts over loudspeakers near the border for the first time in more than 10 years.
The two Koreas’ relations significantly improved, however, during President Moon Jae-in’s tenure, which was interestingly reflected by the removal of landmines in the Joint Security Area (“JSA”) in Panmunjom in 2018. This move was in response to a pact made at a summit in Pyongyang, where Kim Jong-un and President Moon agreed to reduce tension and build trust on the divided peninsula. The deal also provided for the removal of guard posts and weapons following the removal of landmines, with stationed troops remaining at the JSA to be left unarmed.
NEW OBSTACLES IN JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
During the pandemic, North Korean soldiers were seen meticulously laying landmines near the 800-mile-long Sino-Korean border to stop defection, trade, and North Koreans from seeking work in China. Dozens of soldiers were reportedly injured while performing their duties. As a military source told Radio Free Asia, some soldiers were injured in their eyes, legs or back while deploying the “latest type” of mines with a kill radius of 10 feet (3 to 3.5 meters) a mere 65 yards from the border. The explosions reportedly stemmed from a lack of training provided to the soldiers, as the authorities were “simply telling them to begin work immediately.” This move shocked many Chinese residents as well as North Koreans in the border regions, as “This is the first time in the history of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that landmines are being placed at the border with China instead of in the front-line area where we must confront our enemies,” described a North Hamgyong resident.
In addition to the increased number of landmines tactically placed along the main defection routes, tens of thousands of security cameras were also installed in the border areas to monitor potential defectors in recent years. North Korean authorities further planned to demolish all structures within 200 meters along the border with China, specifically targeting Ryanggang Province which has served as a major defection route, which analysts believe is aimed at intensifying border crackdowns to prevent defections, smuggling and a growing influx of information from the outside world.
The Chinese authorities have also tightened their border security since September this year. However, the dire economy in North Korea is expected to force its hungry citizens to continue defecting at all costs. As a source described to DailyNK, “Why else would people in good health risk their lives to leave North Korea? If they had the cash to start a business, they could make some kind of living. But they don’t have anything, so they try to cross the border while knowing they’re taking lives in their hands.”
