Big blaze in inter-Korean border put out, no casualties reported

A big blaze was put out about two hours after the fire broke out in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) side of the demilitarized zone and spread to the South Korean side, local news broadcaster YTN reported Monday.

The fire, which started from a DPRK guard post located some 600 meters north of the Military Demarcation Line, spread to the South Korean side in front of the Dora Observatory at about 1:15 p.m. local time.

The South Korean firefighting authorities were quoted as saying that the big blaze was extinguished at about 3:10 p.m. while firefighters were putting out live embers. No casualties have been reported.

The South Korean military was quoted as saying that DPRK soldiers were seen extinguishing embers near the site, indicating a near completion of their fight fighting.

The Dora Observatory is South Korea's northernmost point in its western front, near which the inter-Korean transit office is situated for customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) for South Korean workers traveling to and from the inter-Korean factory park in the DPRK's border city of Kaesong.

Going to and returning from the Kaesong industrial complex was banned from 2 p.m., but the ban was expected to be lifted soon.

No exact cause of the fire has been known, but dry weather was believed to have contributed to the fire accident.

Firefighting and military authorities were quoted as saying that border areas near the site were full of gray smoke in an initial phase of the fire, which spread south rapidly due to strong wind.

Seven fire engines and some 50 firefighters and soldiers were dispatched to the scene to stop the flames from spreading further. Two firefighting helicopters were also sent to the site after receiving approval from the United Nations Command.

The Dora Observatory is open to tourists to look across the DPRK land, but it was closed on Monday for a weekly day-off, which is believed to have contributed to no casualties.