ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 3, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 3, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• North Korea Plants Mines Along Tactical Roads leading to South Korea
• Taiwan on Alert for Post-Inauguration Chinese Military Drills on May 20, 2024
• Turkey Halts all Trade with Israel

North Korea Plants Mines Along Tactical Roads leading to South Korea

North Korea has reportedly been installing mines on three roads leading to South Korea since around December 2023. The westernmost road is the one leading to the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea, near the demilitarized zone separating the North and the South, where South Korean companies operated until 2016. The easternmost road was used by people who visited scenic Mt. Kumgang in North Korea. North Korean soldiers installed mines on the roads on the North Korean side of the demilitarized zone. South Korean military troops stationed near the zone also confirmed that roadside lights were removed there. These are the latest sets of moves by North Korea, indicating that dialogue with South Korea is not an option. In January, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the implementation of strict measures to block all the channels of inter-Korean communication along the border, such as cutting off the North’s side of the Gyeongui land route. In April, the North was found to have removed dozens of street lamps along the two roads in an apparent move to completely close the routes, once seen as symbols of inter-Korean cooperation and exchange. Before burying the mines, North Korea restored a monitoring station that had been removed from the demilitarized zone in November last year. Finally, in January 2024, North Korea abandoned the concept of "peaceful reunification" with South Korea.

Taiwan on Alert for Post-Inauguration Chinese Military Drills on May 20, 2024

Taiwan is concerned. China is planning military exercises to coincide with the inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te on May 20, 2024. China has already increased military maneuvers around the Taiwan Straits since Lai was elected in January. For example, China has conducted joint combat readiness patrols at night and used inflight refueling aircraft during the patrols to extend the time combat aircraft can remain in the air. China sees Taiwan as its territory and pro-independent Lai as a dangerous separatist. China has increased pressure on Taiwan since President-elect Lai’s January victory, including increased coast guard patrols, opening new air routes unilaterally, and rejecting repeated offers of talks. In the run-up to the elections, there were incidents of cyberattacks and economic coercion, such as increasing extra tariffs on Taiwan’s polycarbonate exports to China. China may increase its military activities as the inauguration approaches and in the immediate aftermath of the ceremony.

Turkey Halts all Trade with Israel

On May 2, sources reported that Turkey had halted all trade activity with Israel in protest of its ongoing Gaza campaign. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, reported that Turkish authorities had begun blocking all Israeli imports and exports from Turkish ports. It is unclear if the trade ban applies to the Israeli imports of Azerbaijani oil, normally conducted through Turkey’s Ceyhan port. The ban follows Turkey’s imposition of limited trade restrictions on Israel in April.