North Korean AP Leaf Mine (NK-PFM)

1. Overview

The North Korean AP Leaf Mine, provisionally designated NK-PFM by CAT-UXO, is a recently observed, pressure-actuated, plastic, scatterable, high-explosive blast anti-personnel landmine deployed by North Korean forces along the demarcation line in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Named for its distinctive leaf-like shape and approximately mobile phone-sized dimensions, this mine first came to international attention in 2024 when North Korean forces were observed emplacing tens of thousands of mines in the DMZ. The mine bears a strong visual resemblance to the Soviet/Russian PFM-1 “butterfly mine” and represents a significant new threat due to its small size, plastic construction, and potential for displacement by flooding.

⚠ SAFETY WARNING: All ordnance should be considered dangerous until proven safe by qualified personnel. This mine is extremely small and may be difficult to see. Suspected mines should never be handled by untrained individuals and must be reported to military or law enforcement authorities immediately. This information is for educational and identification training purposes only.

2. Country/Bloc of Origin

  • Country: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
  • Design Lineage: Visually similar to the Soviet/Russian PFM-1 (butterfly mine / “Green Parrot”); the exact design relationship (copy, derivative, or independent development) is not publicly confirmed
  • Era: First publicly documented in 2024 during North Korean DMZ fortification activities
  • Designation Status: No official North Korean or Western military designation has been publicly assigned. CAT-UXO has provisionally designated it the NK-PFM based on its North Korean origin and visual similarity to the Russian PFM-1

3. Ordnance Class

  • Type: Anti-personnel landmine (blast, scatterable)
  • Primary Role: Area denial against dismounted personnel
  • Deployment Method: Hand-emplaced and potentially scatterable; the PFM-1 design family is intended for dispersal from aircraft, rockets, and artillery, though the specific North Korean delivery methods are not fully documented in open sources

4. Ordnance Family / Nomenclature

  • Provisional Designation: NK-PFM
  • Visual Analog: Soviet/Russian PFM-1 series (“butterfly mine”)
    • PFM-1 — Soviet pressure-activated scatterable AP mine with distinctive butterfly/leaf wing shape; contains 37g liquid explosive (VS-6D)
    • PFM-1S — Self-destructing variant with a timed self-destruct mechanism
  • Context: Russia used PFM-1 mines in the Ukraine conflict (documented in 2022–2023), reviving international awareness of this mine type
  • Related North Korean Mines:
    • North Korean AP Box Mine — Wooden-cased blast mine (see separate lesson)
    • Various other AP and AT mines in the North Korean inventory
  • Explosive Content Comparison: The NK-PFM leaf mine reportedly contains approximately 40 grams of explosive — positioned between standard small AP mines (~20g, like the U.S. M14 or Chinese Type 72) and the North Korean wooden box mine (~70g+)

5. Hazards

  • Primary Hazard Types:
    • Blast: The ~40g explosive charge is sufficient to cause traumatic amputation of the foot or severe injuries to the hand and lower extremities. While small, this charge has greater destructive power than the U.S. M14 blast mine or Chinese Type 72 AP mine
  • Detection Difficulty:
    • Plastic construction with minimal to no metal content makes the mine extremely difficult to detect with conventional metal detectors
    • Very small size (approximately the size of a mobile phone) makes visual detection challenging, particularly in vegetated or debris-covered terrain
    • Leaf-like camouflage shape blends naturally into ground vegetation, leaf litter, and forest floor environments
  • Flooding/Displacement Hazard:
    • This is the primary humanitarian concern. The mine’s small size and light weight make it highly susceptible to displacement by heavy rains and flooding
    • Multiple waterways in the DMZ (Imjin River, Yeokgokcheon Stream, Hwagang River, Inbukcheon Stream) connect North Korean emplacement areas with South Korean territory
    • By July 2024, South Korean military confirmed that displaced NK-PFM mines had already been found in South Korean territory after monsoon rains
    • North Korea’s Hwanggang Dam, Pyeonggang Dam, and Imnam Dam pose additional risk — intentional or unexpected water discharges during heavy rainfall could carry mines into South Korea
  • Emplacement Hazards:
    • Multiple North Korean soldier casualties were documented during 2024 mine-laying operations in the DMZ — at least 10 landmine explosions killed “several” North Korean soldiers
    • Working parties composed of both men and women worked 12–13 hour shifts in extreme conditions
  • UXO Considerations:
    • Mines displaced by flooding will have no surrounding warning signs, fencing, or marked boundaries
    • Civilians with no knowledge of mine threats may encounter displaced mines far from the DMZ
    • The mine’s resemblance to a leaf or small plastic object may attract curiosity, particularly from children

6. Key Identification Features

  • Shape: Leaf-like or butterfly/wing shape — a flat, asymmetric plastic body resembling a large leaf
  • Size: Approximately the size of a mobile phone (exact dimensions not publicly confirmed in detail)
  • Weight: Light (small, plastic-cased design)
  • Construction: Plastic body; pressure-actuated
  • Color: Likely olive green, brown, or camouflage-pattern plastic (consistent with PFM-1 family designs); intended to blend with natural ground cover
  • Distinguishing Features:
    • Flat, thin profile
    • Asymmetric wing or leaf shape
    • No visible metal components
    • Small pressure-sensitive area
  • Comparison to PFM-1: The Soviet PFM-1 has a distinctive butterfly shape with one wing acting as the pressure-activation element; the NK-PFM appears to follow similar design principles but specific differences have not been fully documented in open sources

7. Fuzing Mechanisms

  • Activation: Pressure-actuated
    • The mine detonates when sufficient pressure is applied (typically by a footstep on the pressure-sensitive wing/body)
    • Based on PFM-1 design principles, the pressure element may be a flexible wing that, when compressed, forces a liquid into a fuze cavity to initiate the detonator
  • Arming: Specific arming mechanism for the NK-PFM is not fully described in open sources. The PFM-1 uses a time-delay arming mechanism that arms the mine after dispersal
  • Self-Destruct: Unknown for the NK-PFM. The Soviet PFM-1S variant included a self-destruct mechanism; whether the NK-PFM incorporates this feature is not publicly confirmed
  • Self-Neutralization: Unknown
  • Key Concern: Even if a self-destruct feature exists, it may not be reliable — failure rates in self-destruct mechanisms can leave large percentages of mines active indefinitely

8. History of Development and Use

The NK-PFM leaf mine appears to be a relatively new addition to the North Korean mine inventory, or at least newly deployed in observable quantities. Its emergence coincides with a broader North Korean effort to fortify the DMZ that accelerated in 2024.

Timeline of events:

  • 2020: North Korean authorities reportedly began sealing the country’s borders, including emplacing mines along the border with China. At least six people were reported killed in September–October 2023 when they detonated landmines attempting to cross the Tumen River border near Musan.
  • April 2024: South Korean state broadcaster KBS reported North Korean soldiers laying landmines on the three roads through the DMZ.
  • May 2024: Reports indicated North Korea was installing mines not only along main approach routes but also in mountains and fields within the DMZ.
  • June 18, 2024: South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that several explosions had occurred during North Korean mine-laying operations, resulting in multiple casualties, but that mine laying continued despite these incidents.
  • July 2024: South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik warned that the small, leaf-shaped plastic mines could be displaced into South Korea by heavy monsoon rains. The Joint Chiefs confirmed that North Korean mines — including leaf mines — had already been found in South Korean territory.
  • July 21, 2024: South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts at the border in response to North Korean mine-laying, including information about mine explosions that killed North Korean soldiers.

The mine’s resemblance to the PFM-1 is significant in the broader international context. Russia’s use of PFM-1 mines in Ukraine (2022–2023) brought renewed global attention to scatterable AP mines. The PFM-1’s humanitarian impact in Afghanistan (where Soviet forces dispersed them in large quantities during the 1979–1989 war, earning the nickname “Green Parrot” for their attraction to children) remains a cautionary precedent.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense reported that North Korea installed tens of thousands of mines in the DMZ, making it one of the largest known mine-laying operations in recent decades. The combination of leaf mines, wooden box mines, and potentially other types creates a complex, multi-threat mine environment.

9. Technical Specifications

ParameterSpecification
Provisional DesignationNK-PFM
TypeAP blast mine (scatterable)
ShapeLeaf/butterfly (flat, asymmetric)
Size~Mobile phone sized
ConstructionPlastic body, pressure-actuated
Explosive Fill~40g (type not publicly confirmed)
Metal ContentMinimal to none
DeploymentHand-emplaced; possibly scatterable
Country of OriginNorth Korea (DPRK)
Visual AnalogSoviet/Russian PFM-1
StatusActively deployed (2024–present)

Note: Detailed technical specifications for the NK-PFM remain limited in open sources due to the recency of its documentation and North Korea’s information opacity.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is this mine called a “leaf mine”? A: The name derives from its physical appearance — the mine has a flat, asymmetric shape that closely resembles a leaf. This shape serves dual purposes: it provides camouflage by blending with natural ground vegetation and leaf litter, and (in PFM-1-type designs) the flexible wing serves as the pressure-activation element. The South Korean military and media adopted the “leaf mine” terminology to describe the mine to the public.

Q: How does the NK-PFM compare to the Soviet PFM-1? A: The NK-PFM shares the PFM-1’s basic concept — a small, flat, plastic, scatterable AP mine with a leaf/butterfly shape. The PFM-1 contains 37g of liquid explosive (VS-6D), while the NK-PFM reportedly contains approximately 40g of explosive. Both are plastic-cased with minimal metal. The exact design relationship (direct copy, modified derivative, or independent development) has not been publicly confirmed. The PFM-1S self-destruct variant’s technology may or may not have been incorporated.

Q: Why is the flooding displacement risk so significant? A: Unlike larger, heavier mines that tend to stay in place, the NK-PFM is small and lightweight enough to be carried by floodwater. The DMZ’s geography includes rivers and streams (Imjin River, Yeokgokcheon Stream, Hwagang River, Inbukcheon Stream) that flow from North Korean emplacement areas into South Korean territory. During monsoon season, these waterways flood regularly. Displaced mines enter South Korean civilian areas where people have no expectation of mine presence and no protective infrastructure (fencing, signs, cleared paths). The mine’s leaf-like appearance makes it even more dangerous in these contexts, as it may be mistaken for natural debris.

Q: What makes this mine particularly concerning for civilian safety? A: Several factors combine to make the NK-PFM an outsized civilian threat: its small size makes it hard to see; its leaf shape provides natural camouflage; its plastic construction defeats metal detectors; it can be displaced by flooding into unwarned civilian areas; and its resemblance to an everyday object (a leaf or small plastic item) may attract curiosity, particularly from children. The PFM-1’s history in Afghanistan demonstrated that children are especially vulnerable to small, colorful scatterable mines.

Q: Has this mine already caused casualties? A: North Korean soldier casualties have been confirmed during mine-laying operations in 2024. The South Korean Joint Chiefs reported more than 10 explosions causing “several” deaths among North Korean troops emplacing mines. Whether the specific casualties were from leaf mines versus other mine types emplaced simultaneously is not specified in public reporting. As of the time of this lesson, confirmed civilian casualties from displaced NK-PFM mines in South Korea have not been publicly reported, though the risk is recognized as severe.

Q: How should a suspected NK-PFM be handled if found in South Korea? A: Do not approach, touch, or attempt to move the object. Evacuate the immediate area and establish a safe distance. Mark the location if possible without approaching. Report immediately to South Korean military authorities or police. The mine’s small size means others may be present nearby — scan the surrounding area visually before moving. Do not assume that because one mine is found, the area is otherwise clear.

Q: Is there any self-destruct feature on the NK-PFM? A: This is unknown from open sources. The Soviet PFM-1S variant included a self-destruct mechanism, but the PFM-1 (non-S) did not. Whether North Korea incorporated self-destruct technology in the NK-PFM has not been publicly confirmed. Even if present, self-destruct mechanisms have documented failure rates that leave a percentage of mines active well beyond their intended lifespan. No self-destruct mechanism should be relied upon for clearance safety.

Q: Why did North Korean soldiers suffer casualties while laying these mines? A: Multiple factors likely contributed: the mines were emplaced in large quantities under harsh conditions (extreme heat, monsoon weather, 12–13 hour shifts); working parties included personnel who may not have had extensive mine-handling training; the small, sensitive mines may have been inadvertently activated during handling or emplacement; and the density of mine-laying operations increased the probability of accidental detonation. South Korea reported these casualties as evidence that North Korean mine-laying operations were conducted without adequate safety precautions.