Explosions heard across border island likely tied to N. Korea's coastal reinforcement: S. Korean military

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- Recent explosion sounds heard from the northern side of a western border island appear to be linked to North Korea's ongoing work to reinforce its coastal security facilities, a South Korean military official said Tuesday.

North Korea was seen conducting demolition and border fortification work in a border area near Ganghwa Island off South Korea's west coast, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported the previous day.

The media outlet quoted a Ganghwa resident who described hearing massive "booms" nearby, saying that nothing like this had ever happened in all his years living there.

"Explosion sounds are being continuously heard in the North Korean coastal area north of the neutral waters of the Han River estuary on the Ganghwa front," Capt. Jang Do-young, spokesperson of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), said during a press briefing.

"We judge that the North Korean military is reinforcing its coastal security facilities on the North's side and we are closely monitoring related movements," he added.

Located just northwest of Incheon along the Han River estuary, Ganghwa Island is one of the closest islands to the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) separating the two Koreas.

It is also known as one of the areas where North Korean mines are often washed ashore across the border into South Korean territory following heavy rains.

This undated file photo captures a wide view of a North Korean county, seen from the northernmost tip of Ganghwa Island off South Korea's west coast near the inter-Korean border. (Yonhap)

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) N. Korea warns of 'powerful counteraction' if S. Korea intrudes 'even a millimeter' into its territory

Defense chief says mine-removal operation a 'decisive' response against N. Korea

N. Korean soldiers intrude across MDL around 50 times in Aug.-Sept. period: lawmaker

S. Korean military detonates suspected N. Korean land mine washed ashore on west coast

Explosions heard across border island likely tied to N. Korea's coastal reinforcement: S. Korean military

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，10月13日（韩联社）——一名韩国军方官员周二表示，最近从西部边境岛屿北侧听到的爆炸声似乎与朝鲜正在进行的加强其沿海安全设施的工作有关。

据日本广播协会（NHK）前一天报道，朝鲜在韩国西海岸江华岛附近的边境地区进行拆除和边境防御工事加固工作。

媒体援引一位江华岛居民的话说，他听到附近传来巨大的“爆炸声”，并表示在他居住在那里的这么多年里，从未发生过这样的事情。

韩国联合参谋本部发言人张道英上尉在新闻发布会上表示：“在江华前线汉江口中立水域以北的朝鲜沿海地区，不断传来爆炸声。”

他补充说：“我们判断朝鲜军方正在加强其在朝鲜一侧的沿海安全设施，我们正在密切关注相关动向。”

江华岛位于仁川西北方向的汉江入海口，是距离分隔朝鲜半岛南北两岸的军事分界线（MDL）最近的岛屿之一。

这里也是朝鲜地雷经常在暴雨后被冲到韩国境内的地区之一。

这张未注明日期的资料照片拍摄于韩国西海岸江华岛最北端，靠近朝韩边境，展现了朝鲜某郡县的全景。（韩联社）

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

（导语）朝鲜警告称，如果韩国哪怕“深入”其领土一毫米，朝鲜将采取“强有力的反制措施”。

国防部长称排雷行动是对朝鲜的“果断”回应

据议员称，8月至9月期间，朝鲜士兵越过军事分界线约50次。

韩国军方引爆了疑似朝鲜地雷，该地雷被冲上西海岸。

韩国军方称，边境岛屿上空传来爆炸声，可能与朝鲜沿海增援行动有关。