North Korean Howitzer Spotted Near DMZ as Tensions Rise Over Landmine Dispute
Reuters witnesses saw a North Korean howitzer and troops near the border after Pyongyang accused Seoul of fabricating a September landmine incident.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Reuters observers at a South Korean observatory reported a North Korean self‑propelled 122mm howitzer positioned near the Demilitarised Zone on 26 October, alongside armoured vehicles and soldiers working on fencing.
What happened
The sighting occurred on Monday, 26 October 2026, when a Reuters witness documented the artillery piece in clear view of the border. The same observation noted three armoured vehicles with gun barrels pointed south and roughly 20‑30 soldiers conducting fence repairs inside the DMZ. A North Korean guard post was also captured from an observation deck in Gimpo.
What the reports add
The Independent’s two articles both cite Reuters as the source of the visual evidence. One article adds that Yonhap news agency identified the weapon as a self‑propelled 122mm howitzer, describing the display as a rare public exhibition of such artillery. The other article emphasizes that the sighting followed a letter sent by North Korea’s UN representative on Sunday, accusing South Korea of fabricating a September 21 landmine blast and warning of “self‑defence measures”. Both pieces note that the letter warned South Korea would be “wholly accountable for all the ensuing consequences”.
What was said
Lim Eul‑chul, a professor at Kyungnam University in Seoul, told Reuters that the deployment was “highly unusual” and interpreted it as a signal that North Korea intends to enforce its border policy through force rather than dialogue. The Independent reported the North Korean UN representative’s statements that Seoul was using the landmine incident to portray Pyongyang’s border construction as a military incursion.
How it came about
The latest border activity follows a series of incidents that have heightened inter‑Korean tensions. On 21 September, a landmine explosion in the western sector of the DMZ injured three South Korean soldiers, an event that South Korea alleges was caused by a North Korean device and that North Korea denies. Subsequent reports documented a surge in North Korean mine‑laying along the DMZ and a diplomatic protest by Kim Yo‑jong on 21 October. The appearance of the howitzer can be seen as a further escalation in the wake of these disputes.
Key facts
- A North Korean self‑propelled 122mm howitzer was observed near the DMZ on 26 October 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Three North Korean armoured vehicles and 20‑30 soldiers were also seen working on fence repairs inside the DMZ. (independent.co.uk)
- North Korea sent a letter to the UN Security Council accusing South Korea of fabricating a September 21 landmine blast. (independent.co.uk)
- Lim Eul‑chul said the artillery display was highly unusual and signalled a force‑based border policy. (independent.co.uk)
Timeline
- 2026-09-21 — Landmine explosion injures three South Korean soldiers in the DMZ.
- 2026-10-21 — Kim Yo Jong inspects DMZ fortifications and warns of retaliation.
- 2026-10-23 — South Korea reports nearly a million new landmines placed by North Korea since 2024.
- 2026-10-26 — North Korean howitzer and armoured vehicles spotted near the DMZ.
