A wildfire broke out in the eastern section of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near Goseong, about 159 kilometers northeast of Seoul, prompting the Korea Forest Service to launch an active firefighting operation.
the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Apr. 11 that the fire began around 4:30 p.m. on Apr. 10 within the DMZ near Goseong. “The Korea Forest Service deployed two wildfire suppression helicopters beginning at 6:30 a.m. today to combat the blaze,” the military said.
The JCS added that a loudspeaker warning was issued to the North prior to the helicopter deployment. The statement noted there had been no damage to South Korean personnel or facilities and that firefighting efforts south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) were proceeding smoothly.
“Our military is maintaining heightened readiness while closely monitoring North Korean movements,” the JCS said.
The fire comes just days after a separate security incident in the same area. On Apr. 8 at approximately 5 p.m., more than 10 North Korean soldiers armed with individual firearms crossed the MDL in an eastern front-line sector of the DMZ. The South Korean military responded immediately with a warning broadcast, followed by warning shots, prompting the North Korean troops to retreat.
The South Korean military believes the incursion may have been an unintentional crossing due to the North’s recent disconnection of front-line communication routes. However, it is also assessing the possibility that the move was a calculated provocation intended to take advantage of South Korea’s ongoing domestic political uncertainty.
