[Military Story] We Protect the East Coast Without Any Gaps

Army 23rd Security Brigade Maintains 24-Hour Vigilance with Advanced Equipment
Reconnaissance Drones Deployed to Monitor Blind Spots Such as Coastal Cliffs

At 1:35 a.m. on September 18, 1996, an unidentified vessel ran aground with half of its body exposed on the coast of Daepodong Village, Aninjin-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do. Taxi driver Lee Jin-gyu (36) discovered it and reported it to the Gangneung Police Station. The stranded vessel was a North Korean 350-ton Shark-class submarine. It was revealed that this submarine had infiltrated our territory three days earlier for reconnaissance and approached close to the shore to retrieve the reconnaissance team when it ran aground. The military launched a mop-up operation, killing 24 out of 26 infiltrating armed agents and capturing one alive. One agent was declared missing. Our military also suffered casualties. With 11 soldiers and 4 civilians lost, the operation ended after about 50 days. Now, more than 30 years later, we visited the Army’s 23rd Security Brigade to observe the East Coast’s defense posture.

Deungmyeongsocho was responsible for the boundary of the 10km coastal area in the Gangneung region. (Photo by the Army)

The sea breeze in front of Gangneung was biting cold. Following the national road along the hillside, we arrived at Deungmyeong Outpost. We never imagined a unit would be stationed atop the cliff. Guided by a military official, we entered the unit, where a three-story building occupied less than 100 pyeong (approximately 330 square meters). Deungmyeong Outpost is responsible for monitoring a 10 km coastal area in the Gangneung region. Back in the 1990s, when armed infiltrators were active, soldiers had to rely solely on their own eyes. Now, things have changed. Thermal imaging devices (TOD) and about 10 closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) have taken over the role. Soldiers monitor the coast from inside the control room instead of being stationed at coastal outposts. In front of the control room were about 10 monitors showing real-time footage of the coastline. They displayed the locations of vessels under 10 tons provided by the Coast Guard, as well as movements of vessels over 100 tons provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. This system is called ‘Eye-map.’ Next to it was the Army Coastal Information Sharing System (ACISS), which showed all vessels floating in front of Gangneung. Each vessel was assigned a unique number, with confirmed vessels marked in blue, unidentified vessels in yellow, and vessels of interest such as spy ships or illegal immigrants’ boats in red.

The soldiers observed the forward coastline using TOD. With about 40x zoom, they could see not only moving fishing boats but also every action of fishermen. On this day, at 10:05 a.m., the soldiers closely monitored three confirmed vessels, one tracked vessel, and even the movements of people along the coast. Nearby was the Air Force Gangneung Air Base. Since the probability of enemy infiltration into the base was high, 24-hour surveillance was essential. The soldiers preemptively identified expected infiltration routes for enemy submarines or submersibles and closely monitored maritime changes in those areas. Because soldiers had to stare at the monitors for long periods, they rotated shifts every 30 minutes to maintain concentration, as focus tends to wane after that time.

Soldiers check the coastal fence daily to ensure there are no abnormalities along the fence. (Photo by the Army)

Captain Jung Sang-min, the company commander, said, “Unlike the southern sea with many islands, the East Sea has many tourists,” adding, “Our goal is not only to detect enemy infiltration first but also to ensure the safety of tourists, including intoxicated individuals.” Looking at the map, the operational area included the Yeomjeon, Anin, and Deungmyeong coasts. He mentioned that just a week ago, they had saved a life by notifying the Coast Guard after spotting an intoxicated person on a breakwater.

Having TOD and CCTV did not guarantee safety. Soldiers inspect the coastal fence daily to check for any abnormalities. Where soldiers cannot reach, reconnaissance drones take over. At the outpost next to the building, a drone measuring 90 cm by 90 cm was on standby.

The propeller, which started rotating in a few seconds, lifted the drone up to 50 meters above the ground. (Photo by the Army)

Sergeant Hong Myung-won, the operations non-commissioned officer, checked the wind direction. To launch the reconnaissance drone, the wind speed in the air must not exceed 35 km/h (10 m/s). Taking advantage of a lull in the wind, the drone, after camera and other equipment checks, was powered on. Within seconds, the propellers began spinning, lifting the drone to 50 meters above ground. The drone flew beneath the cliff. Its camera, about the size of an adult fist, had impressive performance. It approached near Seonjaegul Cave, an area inaccessible to soldiers, and inspected every suspicious object nearby. The drone flies more than three times a week to inspect the Gangneung coastal area. Returning, the drone seemed like a valiant soldier.

That day was the 23rd Security Brigade’s ground comprehensive training day. The brigade conducted a simulated infiltration defense exercise with the help of a civilian paragliding club. The training took place at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Samcheok Marine Research Center. Allowing civilian paragliders to fly near national facilities was a precautionary measure for emergencies. During the recent Israeli invasion, Hamas operatives crossed fences using paragliders. The Joint Chiefs of Staff believe North Korea is highly likely to imitate this tactic to breach our forward scientific surveillance system. Members of the paragliding club speculated that military radar might not detect them, as they could be mistaken for a flock of birds. However, this was a misjudgment. The military clearly detected the paragliders from 10 km away using TOD. A military official said, “As enemy infiltration methods diversify, we are strengthening surveillance through various training exercises.”