N. Korea likely planted 960,000 land mines along inter-Korean border since 2024: lawmakers

North Korea has planted an estimated 960,000 land mines along the inter-Korean border since 2024, according to lawmakers Friday, as Pyongyang reinforced the border after Kim Jong-un declared relations with Seoul hostile. South Korea’s military reported the estimate to the National Assembly. Border tensions have risen since a Sept. 21 mine explosion injured three South Korean soldiers; Seoul blamed Pyongyang, which denied responsibility.

Lawmakers affiliated with the parliamentary intelligence and defense committees said the South Korean military provided the estimate to the National Assembly.

Since April 2024, South Korea’s military has detected North Korean troops installing barbed-wire fences, laying mines and erecting anti-tank barriers along the Military Demarcation Line.

North Korean troops have moved close to or crossed the Military Demarcation Line on numerous occasions, prompting South Korean warning broadcasts or warning shots.

Seoul said its investigation found North Korean antipersonnel mines caused the Sept. 21 explosion, while Pyongyang accused Seoul of fabricating the probe and threatened to resume anti-Seoul loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy tactical weapons along the border.

Some military experts have estimated that more than 2 million land mines, including those planted by South Korean forces, are along the Demilitarized Zone; Unification Minister Chung Dong-young gave a similar figure during a parliamentary audit earlier this month.

Published Oct 23, 2026 9:36 am KST

North Korean soldiers work on what appears to be a mission to construct tactical roads and fences near a border area, seen from South Korea's western border island of Ganghwa, Thursday. Yonhap

North Korea has planted an estimated 960,000 land mines along the inter-Korean border since 2024, according to multiple lawmakers Friday, a move seen as part of its border fortification work after Pyongyang declared a "two hostile states" policy toward Seoul.

The South Korean military has reported the estimate to the National Assembly, lawmakers affiliated with the parliamentary intelligence and defense committees told Yonhap News Agency.

North Korea has stepped up border reinforcements since April 2024, after its leader Kim Jong-un declared relations with Seoul as "two states hostile to each other" in late 2023.

The South's military has since detected increasing movements of North Korean troops installing barbed-wire fences, laying mines and erecting anti-tank barriers along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), the inter-Korean border line that sits inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

North Korean troops have moved close to or even crossed the MDL on numerous occasions, prompting the South's military to blare warning broadcasts or fire warning shots in line with operational standards.

Tensions have heightened along the border following the Sept. 21 land mine explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers.

Seoul has concluded Pyongyang was behind the mine blast after its investigation found the North's antipersonnel mines were the cause of the explosion.

Pyongyang has vehemently denied responsibility, accusing Seoul of fabricating the probe to pin the blame on the regime, and threatened to resume anti-Seoul loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy tactical weapons along the border.

Some military experts have estimated that more than 2 million land mines are planted along the DMZ, including those planted by the South Korean forces.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young provided a similar figure during a parliamentary audit earlier this month.

据韩国国会议员周五表示，自2024年以来，朝鲜已在朝韩边境埋设了约96万枚地雷。此前，金正恩宣布与首尔关系敌对，平壤随即加强了边境防御。韩国军方已向国会报告了这一估算数据。自9月21日一枚地雷爆炸导致三名韩国士兵受伤以来，边境紧张局势不断升级；首尔方面指责平壤，但平壤否认对此负责。

与国会情报委员会和国防委员会有关联的议员表示，韩国军方向国会提供了这一估计。

自 2024 年 4 月以来，韩国军方发现朝鲜军队沿军事分界线安装铁丝网、埋设地雷和设置反坦克障碍。

朝鲜军队曾多次逼近或越过军事分界线，引发韩国发出警告广播或鸣枪示警。

首尔方面表示，其调查发现9月21日的爆炸是由朝鲜的杀伤人员地雷造成的，而平壤方面则指责首尔捏造调查结果，并威胁要恢复反首尔的扩音器广播，并在边境部署战术武器。

一些军事专家估计，非军事区沿线埋设了超过200万枚地雷，其中包括韩国军队埋设的地雷；统一部长官郑东荣在本月初的国会审计中也给出了类似的数字。

发布于2026年10月23日上午9:36（韩国标准时间）

周四，从韩国西部边境岛屿江华岛拍摄到，朝鲜士兵似乎正在边境附近修建战术道路和围栏。（韩联社）

据多位议员周五表示，自 2024 年以来，朝鲜已在朝韩边境埋设了约 96 万枚地雷。此举被视为平壤宣布对首尔实行“两个敌对国家”政策后，朝鲜加强边境防御工作的一部分。

据韩联社报道，隶属于国会情报委员会和国防委员会的议员表示，韩国军方已向国会报告了这一估计。

自2024年4月以来，朝鲜加强了边境防御，此前其领导人金正恩在2023年底宣布与首尔的关系为“两个敌对国家”。

韩国军方随后发现朝鲜军队的活动日益频繁，他们沿着军事分界线（MDL，即位于非军事区（DMZ）内的朝韩边界线）安装铁丝网、埋设地雷和设置反坦克障碍。

朝鲜军队曾多次接近甚至越过军事分界线，促使韩国军方按照作战标准发出警告广播或鸣枪示警。

9月21日发生的地雷爆炸事件导致三名韩国士兵受伤，此后边境地区的紧张局势加剧。

首尔方面调查发现，朝鲜埋设的杀伤人员地雷是造成此次地雷爆炸的原因，并得出结论认为平壤是幕后黑手。

平壤强烈否认对此负有责任，指责首尔捏造调查以将责任推卸给朝鲜政权，并威胁要恢复反首尔的扩音器广播，并在边境部署战术武器。

一些军事专家估计，非军事区沿线埋设了超过200万枚地雷，其中包括韩国军队埋设的地雷。

统一部长官郑东荣在本月初的国会审计中也提供了类似的数字。