Mine blast sheds light on poor monitoring of NK soldiers

By Kang Seung-woo

The South Korean military is facing criticism that it failed to detect North Korean soldiers who laid landmines after sneaking across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the mines that exploded last week wounding two South Korean staff sergeants on border patrol were planted by North Korean soldiers.

The South Korean military still has no idea exactly when and how the North Korean soldiers entered the South-controlled demilitarized zone.

“It is an indefensible failure by the military to detect the enemy’s invasion,” Rep. Lee Seok-hyun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) said during a party meeting on Tuesday.

“The government needs to punish those in charge of guard duty and strengthen military discipline.”

Baek Kun-ki, another NPAD lawmaker who is a retired four-star Army general, also accused the military of having a flawed defense.

“Although there were some signs of the North’s provocation inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ), the military failed to prepare for it and detect buried mines with advanced equipment beforehand,” Baek said.

“The military also exposed its weakness with the poor initial response to the explosion.”

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), groups of North Korean soldiers have briefly violated the MDL since last year and JCS Chairman Adm. Choi Yun-hee has called for watertight readiness against the North’s increased activities near the MDL.

Baek added that the military should address the blind areas with reconnaissance along the border.

In response to criticism of its lax defense, Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said that it is not possible for guards to completely cover the area between the MDL and the South’s guard posts.

“The detonation spot is surrounded by a dense forest in summer and located over the hill, so it is not easy for thermal observation devices (TODs) to detect movement,” Kim said.

“In addition, when we have foggy skies there, our observation grows even more difficult.”

He added that if necessary, the military may consider cutting trees to improve its surveillance along the border.

The spokesman also said that as soldiers patrol wide areas along the border, they cannot keep tabs on every specific spot.

“That is why they carry out ambush operations at intervals in some areas and it may allow North Koreans to breach the border,” Kim said.