North Korean soldiers were killed or injured in mine explosions while engaged in land clearing operations or other operations in the areas bordering the South in an incident that occurred after other Pyongyang soldiers had crossed the border before returning to their bases following warning shots fired from Seoul.
The news of the victims was given by a South Korean General Staff officer, according to whom Pyongyang is installing “unidentified structures” that appear to be anti-tank barriers, placing mines and clearing the area to strengthen security along the demilitarized zone since last April. According to the officer, the objective would be to prevent soldiers deployed at the border and residents of the area from fleeing to the south.
Before this incident, Seoul Yonhap News Agency had reported theentry into the south of some North Korean soldiers in the second violation of this type after the one on June 9th. According to the General Staff, between 20 and 30 soldiers with work tools crossed the demilitarized zone along the 38th parallel, before South Korean soldiers fired five warning shots, forcing Pyongyang’s military to turn back.
