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North Korean soldier defects to South across demilitarized zone
A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea on Sunday by crossing the heavily mined demilitarized zone (DMZ), according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
“Our forces have detained a North Korean soldier who crossed the military demarcation line on Sunday,” the JCS said in a statement. The individual was identified near the border, monitored, and escorted through a standard operation before being taken into custody.
The DMZ, which separates North and South Korea, is one of the most heavily fortified and mined borders in the world. Direct defections across the line are rare; most North Korean refugees flee via China and other third countries such as Laos, Thailand, or Mongolia.
Authorities in Seoul will investigate the circumstances of the crossing. North Korean defectors entering South Korea are usually held by intelligence services for several weeks for verification and debriefing.