It is disheartening that some North Korean soldiers in the DMZ were injured and killed recently by land mine explosions. Although more than seven decades have passed since the Korean War, land mines in the DMZ remain a significant concern.

This issue underscores the long-term nature of land mine contamination and the need for sustained demining efforts. Mines and unexploded ordnance threaten human safety, hinder development, degrade the environment, damage cultural sites and obstruct recovery efforts, impeding progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals long after conflicts end.

Furthermore, mine explosions jeopardize human lives and significantly harm the environment. The plastic waste from these explosions negatively impacts soil structure, and unearthed mines can lead to contamination. Additionally, soil is rendered unusable as mines suffer erosion and degradation.

The Convention for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of Armed Conflict, widely known as the 1954 Hague Convention, is a multilateral treaty adopted to protect cultural property in times of peace and during armed conflicts. This context underscores........

© The Korea Times