Chinese authorities warn of possible North Korean landmine displacement due to floods, notify residents "Do not go to the riverbank”

◆China likely requested confirmation from North Korea

Concerns are growing that landmines potentially buried on the North Korean side of the upper Yalu River along the North Korea-China border may have been displaced due to heavy rains at the end of July. A Chinese reporting partner has reported that Chinese authorities are warning residents near the border not to approach the riverbank, and appear to have inquired to North Korea about possible landmine displacement. (JEON Song-jun / KANG Ji-won)

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◆Chinese authorities: "Report any suspicious objects immediately"

Jilin Province's Changbai County faces North Korea's Hyesan in Ryanggang Province across the Yalu River. An ASIAPRESS reporting partner residing there reported on August 7 that Chinese authorities are on high alert for the possibility of North Korean landmines being displaced due to heavy rains.

The reporting partner said they understand that the authorities have inquired to North Korea about landmine displacement and have notified nearby residents to "not go near the river and report immediately if you see any suspicious objects."

The reporting partner also said that a Chinese border patrol official mentioned the possibility of landmines washing over from North Korea.

There have been previous reports that the Kim Jong-un regime planted landmines in border areas along the Yalu River to prevent defections and smuggling, but the veracity of these claims is uncertain. With the possibility of landmine displacement due to the recent floods, Chinese authorities may have requested confirmation from North Korea for the safety of their citizens.

◆Destruction of border posts and wire fences

The reporting partner also stated that they confirmed numerous North Korean border posts and wire fences were destroyed by the heavy rains. This section is opposite Districts 21 and 22 of Changbai County, near Gasan-ri in Bocheon County, where ASIAPRESS previously reported on local resident evacuations due to collapsed embankments on August 5.

◆North Korea refuses aid supplies

The reporting partner also said that North Korea is refusing to accept aid supplies.

"A group of traders who have been doing business with North Korea said they would send aid supplies to North Korea, but North Korea refused, saying there were instructions from the central government not to accept anything," he said. He added that before COVID-19, Chinese traders would send rice or cooking oil for free, and North Korean counterparts appreciated it, but now they react as if it's troublesome when offered help.

※ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.