Nervously at the border between the Koreas. Pyongyang has deployed nearly a million new mines

Since early 2024, North Korea has deployed approximately 960,000 landmines along the border with South Korea, escalating tensions following Kim Jong-un's declaration of hostile relations. North Korean troops have reinforced the demilitarized zone (DMZ) with barbed wire and anti-tank barriers. Tensions spiked after a mine explosion injured three South Korean soldiers, which North Korea denied responsibility for. In response, South Korea proposed military talks to clarify the demarcation line and prevent accidental clashes. The border, established in 1953, remains poorly defined, with conflicting maps used by both sides. Previous dialogue proposals from South Korea have gone unanswered by North Korea.