Highly venomous sea snakes found in southern Korea

Black-banded sea krait

By Jung Min-ho

Rising sea temperatures are responsible for the highly venomous snakes found in southern Korea over the last few years, scientists have concluded.

Kangwon National University researchers found 12 black-banded sea kraits around the south coast and Jeju Island between April 2015 and October 2016, according to a report released Saturday.

Professor Park Dae-sik, who led the research, said the snakes were found mostly in the warm waters of the western Pacific Ocean, such as Okinawa, but had also been found near the Korean Peninsula in recent years.

After genetic analysis, the researchers concluded the snakes came from Japan’s southern Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan.

“Their number here is expected to increase,” Park said. “We need more research about their behavior to prevent accidents.”

Their venom is 10 times stronger than that of a cobra, making them extremely dangerous. But experts say the snakes rarely attack humans first.