Landmines cause multiple casualties during North Korean incursion into demilitarised zone

Landmine explosions have caused multiple North Korean causalities after troops were reported to have crossed into the demilitarised zone on the border with South Korea.

South Korean army soldiers patrol in the demilitarized zone in Goseong. File pic: AP

In a separate incident the Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea's military had fired warning shots at a group of 20 to 30 North Koreans who had breached the Military Demarcation Line.

It comes as Russia's President Vladimir Putin begins a visit to Pyongyang, his first trip to North Korea in 24 years, and marks the second border violation in just two weeks.

In a statement, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korean troopers were working near the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ) when a landmine exploded causing multiple casualties. An official said the incident appeared to be accidental.

South Korea's military fired warning shots after about 20 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border near the start of June.

That followed a recent rise in tension over North Korea's launch of balloons carrying trash into the South, as well as South Korea restarting "unbearable" propaganda broadcasts for the first time since 2018.

Seoul also said it has seen increased North Korean construction activity in frontline border areas, such as installing suspected anti-tank barriers, reinforcing roads and planting landmines.