Mine believed lost from North Korea found near Ganghwa County beach after 54 days
In short
An anti-personnel ankle mine was found on 8 October near Daebinchang Beach on Jumundo in Seodo-myeon, Ganghwa County, Incheon, and a military explosive ordnance disposal team recovered it and destroyed it by detonation. Authorities presume it was lost from North Korea and drifted in; it was the first mine found since 15 August, 54 days earlier, Chosun Ilbo reported.
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An anti-personnel ankle mine was found on 8 October near Daebinchang Beach on Jumundo in Seodo-myeon, Ganghwa County, Incheon, according to Ganghwa County as cited by Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily. Military authorities sent an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team, which recovered the mine and disposed of it by detonation. [ 3 , 4 ]
The two outlets differ on the details of the discovery. Chosun Ilbo put the time at about 3:20 p.m. and said a worker doing environmental clean-up near the beach found the mine and reported it. Seoul Economic Daily put the time at about 3:10 p.m. and said a nearby resident first found and reported it. [ 3 , 4 ]
Authorities presume the mine was lost from North Korea and drifted in, Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily reported. Chosun Ilbo said the authorities believe it was carried from North Korean areas by heavy summer rains. Seoul Economic Daily quoted a Ganghwa County official as saying that, as there had been no rain recently, the mine appears to have drifted in on seawater. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily said the find came 54 days after the previous one, which Chosun Ilbo dated to 15 August. Chosun Ilbo reported that 17 mines, including wooden-box mines and anti-personnel mines, were found one after another on Ganghwa in July and August. Seoul Economic Daily described the latest mine as the 17th found in Ganghwa County this year. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
At about 5:56 p.m., Ganghwa County sent a safety alert text message saying mines that had drifted from North Korea were being found, and asking people who spot a suspicious object not to touch it and to report it to the military on 1338 or the police on 112, Chosun Ilbo reported. Yonhap's headline also called for safety caution. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Mines presumed to come from North Korea are still being found in Ganghwa County, and the county has sent a safety alert asking people not to touch suspicious objects and to report them. Outlets differ on how many mines have been found this year and on what carried this one in.
Key facts
- An anti-personnel ankle mine was found on 8 October near Daebinchang Beach on Jumundo, Seodo-myeon, Ganghwa County, Incheon. [ 3 , 4 ]
- A military explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team recovered the mine and disposed of it by detonation. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Authorities presume the mine was lost from North Korea and drifted in. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The mine was found 54 days after the previous find; Chosun Ilbo dated the previous one to 15 August. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ganghwa County sent a safety alert text at about 17:56 asking people not to touch suspicious objects and to report them to the military on 1338 or police on 112. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reported 17 mines were found on Ganghwa in July and August; Seoul Economic Daily called this one the 17th found in Ganghwa County this year. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- An anti-personnel mine presumed to have drifted from North Korea was found at a beach in Ganghwa County, Incheon. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The find came 54 days after the previous mine was found. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The mine was found near Daebinchang Beach on Jumundo, Seodo-myeon, on 8 October. [ 3 , 4 ]
- A military EOD team recovered the mine and destroyed it by detonation. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The time of the discovery. Chosun Ilbo gives about 15:20; Seoul Economic Daily gives about 15:10.
- Who found the mine. Chosun Ilbo says a worker doing environmental clean-up near the beach; Seoul Economic Daily says a nearby resident.
- How many mines have been found in Ganghwa this year. Chosun Ilbo says 17 were found in July and August before this one; Seoul Economic Daily says this is the 17th this year.
- What carried the mine in. Chosun Ilbo says authorities link it to heavy summer rains in North Korea; a county official quoted by Seoul Economic Daily said there had been no rain recently and it appears to have drifted in on seawater. The North Korean origin is presumed, not established.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Mine found near Daebinchang Beach on Jumundo, according to Seoul Economic Daily. [ 4 ]
- Mine found near Daebinchang Beach on Jumundo, according to Chosun Ilbo. [ 3 ]
- Ganghwa County sends a safety alert text asking people not to touch suspicious objects and to report them. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reports the mine was found again after 54 days. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the find. [ 3 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the find and quotes a county official. [ 4 ]