Invisible Inhumane Obstacles, Anti-Personnel Mines [Desperate Escape③]

No Distinction Between Allies and Enemies, Adults and Children
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US Joins Ottawa Treaty "Korean Peninsula Is an Exception"

Gyunam puts the most effort into identifying anti-personnel mines while preparing to defect from North Korea. They are the most inhumane defense mechanism created by humanity. Without any declaration of war, they instantly take lives. Even if one barely survives, they must live with lifelong disabilities such as amputated ankles. Mines do not discriminate between friend and foe, adult and child.

The place with the highest concentration of anti-personnel mines in the world is the DMZ. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), at least 2.2 million mines are buried throughout the Korean Peninsula, centered around this area. More than half were not planted intentionally but were scattered in large quantities from airplanes, making their locations impossible to identify. Even if the armistice agreement is replaced by a peace treaty in the future, this will remain a difficult issue to resolve.

The South Korean military planted mines at key points along the 248 km frontline for defensive purposes. Each operational unit keeps maps indicating the locations, types, and quantities of mines. If deemed unnecessary in peacetime, they can be relatively easily removed. However, this does not mean freedom from unidentified mines. Mines scattered or planted during intense battles of the Korean War have no known locations. In the 1960s, mines were also scattered from helicopters and other aircraft. Their types and quantities are unknown. They could threaten both friendly forces and civilians anywhere.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The situation north of the Military Demarcation Line managed by the North Korean military is no different. North Korea has established a large-scale planned minefield along the entire fence line near the Northern Limit Line. They call this the "Minefield." Its location is estimated to be beneath their representative fence line’s high-voltage wires. It is said to stretch tens to hundreds of meters wide along the entire 248 km frontline. The types mainly include wooden box mines, plastic mines, anti-tank mines, and stake mines, mostly those used by the Soviet Union (Russia) and China. Although planted for defense, recently they function more as a deterrent to defections. A considerable number of North Korean soldiers died after passing through the high-voltage wires but getting caught in the minefield.

The international community suppresses the use, production, and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines through the Ottawa Treaty signed in 1997. Countries that led the Cold War or are central to international conflicts, such as China, Russia, South Korea, and North Korea, have neither signed nor ratified it. The United States announced a ban on anti-personnel mine use in 2022 but explicitly excluded the Korean Peninsula. The White House stated, "Due to the unique circumstances of the Korean Peninsula and the U.S. commitment to South Korea’s defense, the policy on anti-personnel mines in the Korean Peninsula will be maintained," adding, "In efforts to replace anti-personnel mines, the security of our ally South Korea will remain a key concern."

The North and South have recently been in a head-to-head confrontation. It has been a long time since dialogue was cut off. North Korea is continuously conducting missile launches as a show of force, and we are responding strongly, escalating tensions. Last weekend, the paper of hope hung in front of the barbed wire and mine warning sign at the northernmost Civilian Control Line moved hearts as a prayer for peace. We hope the Cold War will disappear soon and peace will come. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

Even if South Korea and North Korea dramatically sign the Ottawa Treaty, mines will not disappear overnight. The removal methods and procedures are very complicated. If military units remove mines as part of military operations, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the Civilian Control Zone will suffer severe damage. Discussions are needed on technologies and methods that remove only mines without significantly damaging soil and forest bases. If removal without damage is technically difficult, postponing the process for a certain period is also an option. A careful approach is required to find solutions under the premise that the international community will preserve the DMZ forever.

Editor's NoteRecently, the hot topic in theaters is people crossing the Military Demarcation Line. In "Hijacking," Yongdae (Yeo Jin-gu) attempts to defect to North Korea, while in "Escape," Gyunam (Lee Je-hoon) tries to defect to the South. The different directions point to changing times. The former is set in the early 1970s when fewer than ten defectors crossed annually. The government treated them as meritorious persons or defectors deserving honor. This long-standing trend was overturned in the mid-1990s when the number of defectors increased exponentially. The main cause was economic changes in both Koreas. South Korea experienced rapid growth and greatly improved living conditions. In contrast, North Korea’s planned economy collapsed under excessive political logic. Unprecedented natural disasters caused millions to starve. The North Korean regime itself named this the "Arduous March," marking the worst ordeal. The aftermath continues even now, risking Gyunam’s life. This article revisits their real history and examines the current situation.