Mine blasts at Korea border raise risk of armed clash

The two Koreas urgently need to restore military communication to prevent a landmine dispute in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) from escalating into an armed clash, observers say. The danger is growing as North Korea presses ahead with leader Kim Jong-un’s order to fortify its side of the 4km (2.5 mile) wide buffer zone separating it from the South. South Korea views these works, including the laying of mines near the sparsely marked Military Demarcation Line (MDL) running through the centre, as a serious threat.