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| HamSa- Assitance Organization for Landmine victims in Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Anti-personnel landmines, the present situation on the Korean Peninsula It was during the Korean War that landmines first appeared on the Korean peninsula. In 1952 the allied armies, including the US military, laid massive amounts of landmines in the area that afterward came to be called "the truce line". While it has been reported that the landmines laid by the US forces during the war amount to approximately 1 million, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the exact areas, and also the amount laid by other national militaries. Since the Korean based US troops, after the war, have still been laying landmines in the rearguard, without removing them when changing location of troops, and the Korean military also has used landmines in cases of political or military tensions between the North and the South, there is no concrete information at all on the location or number of landmines on the Korean peninsula. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Korean government, in encouraging the socio-economic developmental projects, recruited on a large scale civilians who would be willing to cultivate the minefields near the DMZ. Most of them, poor and deprived enough to risk the danger, finished the military service, and furthermore, certified as being anti-communists, came to move permanently to these areas. They were required to sign a document so that they would take all the responsibilities regarding the possible accidents and injuries. The minefields, as fully expected, have resulted in massive formation of civilian landmine victims ever since. Meanwhile, the original land owners began to appear one by one to reclaim the ownership on the area, being helped by the indifferent attitude of the government which was reluctant to intervene on the complications. Many of the civilian victims had no choice but to purchase the land, or to become tenants in the fields, as they were told to by the government, while many others left the land. Some of them remained there making a living with occasional subsidies from the engineering corps. One victim that I interviewed said that he was still willing to cultivate the remaining area, and asked to make a petition on behalf of the villagers. They were thinking of disposing of the landmines on their own, due to the conspicuous indifference and unwillingness of the government to get rid of the day-to-day dangers in the area. According to the official records of the Korean Military Office, the total number of victims between 1992-97 are 78, with 29 among them civilians. (It turned out that the previous records had been disposed of after being kept for five years.) Yet, there statistics are confined to those who claimed claims with the Korean government; most of the people that I met to interview said that they had given up the idea of petitioning, because they were reluctant to make trouble with the military authorities in control, or afraid they would lose. With consideration of the in the end of the military authorities in reducing the number of victims, and the shortage of documentation of the related facts, The KCBL estimates that there have been more than 1,000 civilian victims, and 2,000 - 3,000 military victims in South Korea up to the present. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Landmine monitoring repotr of S.Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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REPUBLIC OF KOREA Mine Ban Policy South Korea has not signed the 1007 Mine Ban Treaty. While acknowledging the humanitarian consequences of antipersonnel mined, the ROK is one of the government that has been most vocal in insisting on the legitimacy and military necessity of continued use of antipersonnel landmines. The ROK has said it must retain mines until there is no longer a threat from North Korea, or until an effective to antipersonnel mines is found. South Korea attended all of the treaty preparatory meetings of the Ottawa process, the negotiations in Oslo, and the treaty signing conference in Ottawa in December 1997, but in each case only as an observer. South Korea did not endorse the pro-ban treaty Brussels Declaration in June 1997. It was on of only ten governments to abstain on U.N. General Assembly Resolution 51/45, passed 156-0 on 10 December 1996, urging states to vigorously pursue an international agreement banning antipersonnel landmines. It was also among the small number of states to abstain on the 1997 UNGA Resolution 52/38A supporting the December treaty signing, and the 1998 UNGA Resolution A/C.1/53/L.33 welcoming the addition of new states to the MBT, urging its full realization and inviting state parties and observers to the First Meeting of State Parties in Mozambique. South Korea recognizes the humanitarian crisis caused by antipersonnel mines. According to a 1997 policy stament: "The Republic of Korea fully shares the concerns of the international community over the scourge of antipersonnel landmines. We are well aware of the fact that the proliferation of APLs and their indiscriminate and irresponsible use have caused a great deal of suffering and casualties, particularly among civilian population. Therefore we agree with the emerging consensus that the international community to contain, minimize, and if possible to stop the tragic humanitarian consequences of APLs" The ROK maintains however, that it has a "unique situation that prevents her fully subscribing to the complete ban on the use of APLs .... The ROK cannot at this time fully endorse international efforts to ban APLs until the North Korea military threat is diffused or an equally effective alternative to APLs becomes available." The ROK position is that mines are needed both as a deterrent, and for their combat value. "The use of APLs on the Korean Peninsula has been an essential element in deterring the possible aggression. It has helped prevent the recurrence of another devastating war.... Mining along the north-south invasion routes would work to slow down and break up a North Korean attack.... Minefields have been an indispensible components of our defensive barrier system.... APLs have thus served as a powerful deterrent to military adventurism in Korea and will continue to do so." These arguments were made forcefully by the ROK and by the United States during the Oslo treaty negotiations, when the U.S. formally proposed an exception in the treaty for mine use in Korea. But they were rejected by the almost ninety other governments participating. Negotiators, including some of the closest military allies of the U.S. and ROK, believed that the exception would undermine the treaty in a fundamental way, and that others would then insist on their own geographic exceptions. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines argued that, "While the geopolitical situation in Korea may be unique, the requirement for and impact of the use AP mines is not.... The case cannot be made that only in Korea does the military utility of AP mines outweigh the humanitarian costs." Several former commenders of joint U.S.-ROK forces in South Korea have stated that antipersonnel mines can be safely eliminated from the ROK. Mr. Lee Yang Ho, a former ROK Minister of National Defense, has suggested that North and South Korea should get rid of their landmines jointly. South Korea is not a party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapon or its Landmine Protocol, though the government has told the National Assembly that it would like to accede to the CCW and amended Protocol II in 1997. It is a member of the Conference on Disarmament, and has expressed a willingness to join efforts to negotiate as AP mine transfer ban in the CD. Production South Korea has produced two antipersonnel mines, both of which are copies of the U.S. M18A1 Claymore mine. The Korean designations are K440 and KM18A1; the K440 is slightly larger. The K440 is made by Daewoo Corporation, the KM18A1 by Korean Explosives Ltd. They are directional fragmentation mines that are usually used in a command detonated mode, but can also be used with tripwires. According to ROK Ministry of National Defense, a total of 10,721 M18A1s were produced from 1995-1997 Transfer There is no evidence that the ROK government has ever exported antipersonnel mines. On 28 September 1995, the government announced a formal one-year moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines, which was extended in 1996. In 1997, the government decided to extend the moratorium for an indefinite period. South Korea imported 40,324 AP mines from the United States from 1969 to 1992 when a U.S. export moratorium went into effect. The final purchase was 31,572 ADAM mines from 1986-88, for $4.07 million. These are so-called "smart" mines that self-destruct in four to forty-eight hours. They are fired from artillery. South Korea is one of only a handful of nations to which the U.S. provided these mines. The U.S. shipped 1,035 non-detectable M14 blast mines in 1970, and more than 7,000 M18-A1 Claymore mines from 1969-1973. Stockpiling The number of antipersonnel landmines in the South Korean stockpile is a military secret. However, in a meeting with the ICBL in February 1998, Vice Minister of Defense Lee Jung Rin said that Korea has twice the amount of deployed landmines held in stock. It is commonly asserted that one million mines are deployed by the ROK in the Demilitarized Zone. The U.S. government has publicly stated that the U.S. is stockpiling approximately on million M14 and M16 "dumb" (non-self-destructing) mines in Korea. (See U.S. country report for details). Use Landmines were used extensively by all combatant armies during the Korean War. According to U.S. Army documents, it was the U.S., not North Korea, which introduced mines en masse into Korea and the U.S. lost control of the weapon shortly thereafter. U.S. minefields were easily breached during the Korean War, sending U.S. troops retreating through their own unmarked minefields. More U.S. Army mine casualties in Korea were caused by U.S. defensive minefields than by the enemy's mines. The main source of landmines for the enemy in Korea was captured U.S. mines. There are an eestimated one million mines planted by the ROK and the U.S. in the Demilitarized Zone. Mines were also allegedly planted in large numbers in 1962 during tensions surrounding the Cuban missile crisis. Landmines may also planted by the ROK and the U.S. around their military facilities and strategic locations elsewhere in the country. The Landmine Problem The government maintains that antipersonnel mines do not pose a danger to civilians in South Korea. "The actual mined area on the Korean Peninsula is restricted to the 155-mile Demilitarized Zone(DMZ). The minefields there are fenced and clearly marked. They are throughly mapped and carefully documented. And they are also closely monitored by military personnel twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Civilians access is completely denied. What happened in Angola, Cambodia and some other places in the world has not happened and will not happened in Korea. Yet casualties do still occur, mainly near the DMZ. A 1993 U.S. State Department report said, "The Republic of Korea still has a problem with landmines from World War II and from the Korean Conflict," and notes that uncleared mines are located "along the inter-Korean border and in areas in which Korean War battles occurred. Many of the casualties in recent years have occurred due to flooding or landslides caused by heavy rains that wash landmines out of minefields or storage sites and into areas frequented by civilians. In on incident in August 1998, it was reported that 200 M14 antipersonnel mines had been swept away by rains. Mine Clearance and Mine Awareness There are no humanitarian mine clearance program in South Korea. Since the early 1960s there have been cases where civilians, specially farmers, have tried to clear mines from fields; some became victims. There are no mine awareness education programs in South Korea. One Korean lawmaker has estimated that it would take US$10 billion to clear the mines in the DMZ. Mine Action Funding The ROK government has contributed $300,000 th the U.N. Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance. In 1998, the ROK contributed to mine action in Cambodia, Tajikstan, and Ethiopia. Venerable Mother, Park Cung-Soo of the Kangnam Temple of Won Buddhism, and a member of the board of directors of Korean Campaign to Ban Landmines, contributed about US$110,000 for a Cambodian demining program, and assisted 11 victims in Korea with 100,000 Korean Won(about $85) each. Landmine Casualties The government has claimed that antipersonnel mine "use in Korea has not caused any civilian casualties and inflicted suffering on their lives.... In Korea, the use of APLs has not caused and is not likely to cause civilian suffering." Yet, according to the official records of the Korean Military Office, there were seventy-eight mine victims between 1992 and 1997, including twenty-nine civilians. Records from previous years have been disposed of after being kept for five years. These numbers apparently only include those who lodged claims with with the Korean government, which those who step on mines in areas not considered mined have a right to do. As a resoult of lawsuit, the government made reparations totaling $213,000 to five landmine victims from 1992 to 1997. The Korean Campaign to Ban Landmines has talked to many mine survivors who did not make legal claims because they were reluctant to make trouble with the military authorities, or were afraid they would lose. Recognizing the shortage of reliable data, the Korean Campaign estimates that, dating back to the war, there have been more than 1,000 civilian mine victims, and 2,000-3,000 military mine victims in South Korea. The Korean Campaign to Ban Landmines has undertaken a search for mine victims throughout the country. It has interviewed 27 victims or their relatives; records of the interviews are available. Mine accidents occuredwhile civilians were walking in a beach, picking wild vegetables, fruit and herbs, gathering firewood, walking in a melon field, a bean field, hunting, wanding in stream, and other activities. According to the Korean Campaign, mine incidents have occured in: * Paengnyong-do. Paengnyongdo is an island in the northwesternmost point in South Korea. The government laid landmines northern beach of the island. There have been about 27 victims, including civilians. One of the residents testified that 7 civilians were hit by landmines in his village and 6 of them had died as a result. There are no warning sign or barriers. * Marine camp in Jinchon-ri. Several accidentshave occured here. There is a mined area with no guards, no signs and no barriers. * Papyong-myon, Paju-city, Kyongki-do. This area is near the DMZ. Many mines were laid in this area and they have often been washed away by rain. Once htere was a landmine accident in Inchon-city which was presumed to have occured due to flow from this area. 11 victims are recorded * Nogok-ri village. Mines were planted here in the early 1960s, including some in pivate fields. More than 10 victims are known to exist in this village. * Daekwang-ri village. Every summer landmines carried away by rain plague this village. More than 10 victims exist in this village. * Baekhak-myon, Yonchon-gun, Keyongki-do. Workers in fields encounter mines that have been washed out of the mine fields by flooding. * Haean-myon, Yanggu-kun, Kangwon-do. A man working at the government office for 30 years could recall 24 mine victims in that time. This is very close to the DMZ. * Daema-ri, Chorwon-kun, Kangwon-do. On 30 August of each year, villagers hold a memorial ceremony for victims of landmines. The population is about 900 and the number of victims is between 40 to 50 over the past 30 years. * Saengchang-ri, Kimhwa-eup, Chorwon-kun, Kangwon-do. There are about 25 victims in a population of 500. The Korea Campaign is compiling a record of landmine incidents, which currently has about 100 entires and is available to interestd readers. Below are some recent incidents: 6 April 1998: Songnam-city, Keyongki-do, the landmines laid near the air base were carried away to the valley by rain. 22 April 1998: Doshin-ri, Shinseo-myon, Yonchon-kun, Keyongki-do, Mr. Kim, Ju-Kwon(62) was killed by landmine at the foot of a Yawolsan mountain while picking the wild vegetables. 20 May 1998: Woisungdong-ri, Wonnam-myon,Chorwon-kun, Kangwon-do, three soldiers killed and one damaged by landmine in the DMZ area. July 1998: Byekje-dong, Dukyang-ku, Koyang-city, Keyongki-do, the airforces made publicate at 10 August that the landmines were carried away by rain. July 1998: Galgok-ri, Pobwon-eup, Paju-city, Keyongki-do, the landmines were carried away by rain. 1 August 1998: Galgok-ri, Pobwon-eup, Paju-city, Keyongki-do, the army forces informed that the landmines which laid in 1980s were carried away by rain. 6 August 1998: Tongduchon-city, Keyongki-do, a powder magazine of second division of US army was flooded and ten containers which contain the landmines were flooded away. 7 August 1998: Byekje-dong, Dukyang-gu, Koyang-city, Keyongki-do, the powder magazine of the forst army crops was flooded, the landmines flooded away. 8 August 1998: Wonchang-dong, Seo-ku, Inchon-city, at the beach of the island Seodo, Mr. Shin, Dong-sun (45) stepped on a landmine which carried over by rain and resulting in amputation at the four of right toes. 9 August 1998: Jangheung-myon, Yanggu-kun, Keyongki-do, at the rest place in Songchu valley, a antitank landmine was found. 10 August 1998: Anjung-ri, Paengseong-eup, Pyongtaek-city, the landmines were carried away by rain at the air base. 10 August 1998: Hyunduk-myon, Pyongtaek-city, the landmines were carried away by rain at the air base. 10 August 1998: Jangheung-myon, Yangju-kun, Keyongki-do, at the powder magazine of the army base, the landmines and the canon balls were carried away by rain. 10 August 1998: Dukjung-ri, Eunhyun-myon, Keyongki-di, the air forces informed that the landmines were carried away by rain. 12 August 1998: Ganeung3-dong, uijongbu-city, Keyongki-do, at a position near the air base, three landmines found and collected. 13 August 1998: Haean-myon, Yanggu-kun, Kangwon-do, Mrs. Baek, Chun-Oak(62) stepped on a landmine at the streamside and resulting in amputation at the ankle. 28 August 1998: Byekje-dong, Dukyang-gu, Koyang-city, Mr. Baek, Young-Gil(37) was found a landmine at a residential section. 12 October 1998: Anheung-myon, Taean-kun, Chungchongnam-do, Mr. Han, Kwang-Seok(36) stepped on a landmine while working on the telephone line at the Scientific Research Institute for National Defense. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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