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North Korean authorities are leveraging a September 2026 landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to pressure high school students into more intense military training. Officials claim the South Korean government fabricated the incident to provoke conflict. The target of this campaign is the Youth Guards, an organization that trains teenage students in military tactics.
Last month, a high school in North Pyongan province lectured its Youth Guards about the DMZ incident, alleging Seoul fabricated the explosion to start a war. Students took the lecture seriously, believing South Korea intentionally harmed North Korean forces and fabricated the event. In response to heightened tensions, authorities now require the Youth Guards to conduct weekly emergency mobilization drills.
Despite admitting fault, North Korea insists Seoul staged the landmine explosion. The regime has fortified the border since 2024, leading some parents to protest the disruption of regular studies with military drills.
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- North Korea uses DMZ landmine blast to step up student military drills dailynk.com
- Korea, US kick off combined air drills this week koreatimes.co.kr
- North Korea tells UN South ‘fabricated’ border landmine blast scmp.com
- North Korea sends letter to UN slamming Seoul over landmine blast torontosun.com
