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

Explosion sounds were continuously heard Tuesday from North Korean coastal areas north of the Han River estuary near Ganghwa Island. A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson said the sounds appeared linked to North Korea reinforcing coastal security facilities. South Korea is closely monitoring related movements.

Capt. Jang Do-young, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the sounds as continuous explosions from the North Korean coastal area north of the Han River estuary’s neutral waters.

North Korea was reportedly conducting demolition and border fortification work near Ganghwa Island, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

Ganghwa Island lies just northwest of Incheon along the Han River estuary and is among the South Korean islands closest to the Military Demarcation Line.

Heavy rains often wash North Korean mines ashore onto Ganghwa Island and other areas of South Korean territory.

Published Oct 13, 2026 2:25 pm KST

A view of a North Korean county seen from Ganghwa Island off South Korea's west coast near the inter-Korean border, July 27, 2020 / 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.

周二，朝鲜汉江入海口以北、江华岛附近沿海地区持续传来爆炸声。韩国联合参谋本部发言人表示，这些爆炸声似乎与朝鲜加强沿海安全设施建设有关。韩国正在密切监控相关动向。

韩国联合参谋本部发言人张道英上尉将这些声音描述为来自汉江口中立水域以北朝鲜沿海地区的持续爆炸声。

据日本广播协会（NHK）报道，朝鲜据称正在江华岛附近进行拆除和边境防御工事加固工作。

江华岛位于仁川西北方向的汉江入海口，是距离军事分界线最近的韩国岛屿之一。

暴雨经常将朝鲜水雷冲到江华岛和韩国其他地区。

发布于2026年10月13日下午2:25（韩国标准时间）

2020年7月27日，从韩国西海岸江华岛（靠近朝韩边境）眺望朝鲜某县的景色 / 韩联社

韩国一名军方官员周二表示，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。