Land mines buried in landslide-hit Seoul neighborhood: military

SEOUL, July 28 (Yonhap) -- About 10 land mines remain buried in a Seoul mountain pounded by recent rainstorms and the military is bracing for possible contingencies, the defense ministry said Thursday. At a press briefing, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said the military has removed most of the mines buried near an air defense artillery unit on Mount Umyeon, but "about 10 mines" have not been recovered. Dozens of homes in southern Seoul were buried under mud swept from Mount Umyeon on Wednesday, killing at least 15, following the heaviest downpours to hammer the South Korean capital in a century. But Kim said the military had already cleared the area affected by the landslide. "Chances are low that mines will be spotted," he said. "But we're preparing for any situation that may arise from the area. We have not yet received any report that mines have been spotted." The mines were placed after the 1950-53 Korean War, and a military official explained that most were removed between 1999 and 2006. "We have placed warning signs across the mountain to warn residents and hikers," the official said.