{
  "id": 251051,
  "title": "South Korea recovers landmines washed from North by floods",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/south-korea-recovers-landmines-washed-from-north-by-floods",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T05:33:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/south-korea-recover-landmines-north-floods-6305521"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea has recovered 15 suspected North Korean landmines that were washed into their coastal territory during recent monsoon floods, according to officials on Friday (Aug 7). The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which separates the two nations since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, is one of the world's most heavily mined regions, with an estimated 800,000 mines buried in the area. Choi Young-ran, head of civil defence for Gwangwha, the northwestern border province of South Korea, disclosed that the mines were discovered between July 23 and August 3. Gwangwha, situated at the mouth of the Han River estuary, shares a border with both North and South Korea. The South Korean military had previously warned of the risk of heavy rainfall causing explosives to wash into rivers and potentially explode downstream, resulting in significant damage. In 2015, two South Korean soldiers patrolling the western DMZ lost limbs after being severely wounded by a North Korean mine. Following the 2015 incident, Gwangwha county issued alerts to residents regarding the danger of North Korean mines along coastal areas and expressed concern that a recurrence could cause a decline in tourist numbers.",
  "summary": "South Korean authorities have recovered 15 suspected North Korean landmines that were washed into their coastal territory during monsoon floods. The mines, discovered between July 23 and August 3, were found in Gwangwha county, which sits at the mouth of the Han River estuary separating the two nations. Gwangwha's head of civil defence, Choi Young-ran, confirmed the retrieval of the mines, which are believed to have been washed away during the monsoon season and recent torrential rains. The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which splits the Koreas, is one of the most heavily mined areas in the world, with an estimated 800,000 landmines buried around the region.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "title": "Massive Attack’s South Korea gig video stirs row over 1980 Gwangju massacre",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/massive-attacks-south-korea-gig-video-stirs-row-over-1980-gwangju",
        "published": "2026-08-07T01:39:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Science",
        "title": "Drone warnings and sheltering in airports as South Korea battles historic heatwave",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/drone-warnings-and-sheltering-in-airports-as-south-korea-battles",
        "published": "2026-08-07T04:49:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Record-high heat soars through South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/record-high-heat-soars-through-south-korea",
        "published": "2026-08-07T05:00:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Antara News Indonesia",
        "title": "Indonesia, South Korea finalise wildfire management center",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/indonesia-south-korea-finalise-wildfire-management-center",
        "published": "2026-08-07T05:18:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "South Korea recovers landmines believed to have washed from North by monsoon floods",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/south-korea-recovers-landmines-believed-to-have-washed-from-north-by",
        "published": "2026-08-07T06:29:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "South Korea vows truth over forced overseas adoptions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/south-korea-vows-truth-over-forced-overseas-adoptions",
        "published": "2026-08-07T09:02:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}