South Korean military estimates North Korea laid 960,000 mines in DMZ since 2024
In short
South Korea's military has told the National Assembly that North Korea is estimated to have buried about 960,000 mines in and around the Demilitarized Zone since 2024, according to lawmakers' offices cited on 23 October. Experts put the total number of mines in the DMZ, including South Korean ones, at about 2 million.
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North Korea is estimated to have buried about 960,000 mines in and around the Demilitarized Zone since 2024, according to a report the South Korean military made to the National Assembly. Yonhap, Korea Economic Daily and Maeil Business reported the figure on 23 October, citing multiple lawmakers' offices on the Assembly's intelligence and defence committees. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap said experts in the field put the total number of mines now in the DMZ, South Korean ones included, at about 2 million. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also gave the total as 2 million when he raised the DMZ mine problem during a parliamentary audit on the 7th. On the military's figures, Yonhap said, about half of all DMZ mines were laid since 2024. [ 1 , 3 ]
The outlets described the mining as part of what they called North Korea's border fortification work along the Military Demarcation Line. Yonhap and Korea Economic Daily said North Korea stepped this work up from April 2024 after defining inter-Korean relations as those of 'two hostile states'. Alongside the mining, the work includes clearing ground, building walls, laying tactical roads and barbed wire, and blocking the Gyeongui and Donghae line connecting roads. [ 1 , 2 ]
On the 21st of last month, a North Korean mine exploded south of the Military Demarcation Line and a South Korean soldier was seriously injured, the outlets said. They reported that North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the line during the work, raising military tension in the area. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The South Korean military has answered the crossings with warning broadcasts and warning shots, Yonhap and Korea Economic Daily reported. North Korea has objected, saying the measures threaten the safety of its soldiers, and has signalled it may resume loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
If the military's estimate is right, about half of all mines in the DMZ were laid in the past two years, according to the Yonhap analysis. The outlets link the mining to North Korea's border fortification work and to rising military tension along the Military Demarcation Line.
Key facts
- The military reported to the National Assembly that North Korea has buried an estimated 960,000 mines in the DMZ area since 2024. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The information came from multiple lawmakers' offices on the Assembly's intelligence and defence committees, reported on 23 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Experts estimate the DMZ holds about 2 million mines in total, including South Korean ones; Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also cited '2 million' during a parliamentary audit on the 7th. [ 1 , 3 ]
- On the 21st of last month, a North Korean mine exploded south of the Military Demarcation Line and seriously injured a South Korean soldier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the Military Demarcation Line while carrying out the work. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The military reported to the National Assembly that North Korea laid an estimated 960,000 mines in the DMZ area after 2024. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A North Korean mine exploded south of the Military Demarcation Line on the 21st of last month, seriously injuring a South Korean soldier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- South Korea's military has responded to North Korean troops crossing the line with warning broadcasts and warning shots, and North Korea has objected and signalled it may resume loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- How the military arrived at the figure of 960,000 mines. The documents describe it only as an estimate reported to the Assembly and give no method; the military itself is not quoted.
- The total number of mines now in the DMZ. The figure of about 2 million is an estimate by experts, repeated by the Unification Minister, and is not an official military count in the documents.