JCS Reiterates "North Korean Man in Vietnam Is a Civilian"... Investigating Fence Sensor Error and Others

Strict Response Policy to Speculative Reporting

65 years after the Korean War, tension lingered on the eastern front. (Photo by the Army)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Joint Chiefs of Staff reiterated that the North Korean man who defected through the eastern front line of Gangwon Province is a civilian.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff official told reporters on the 6th that the claim by some that the defector might be a soldier and that there are additional defectors is "completely unfounded."

The official said, "Reports speculating about the possibility of a Southward infiltration attempt and additional personnel being observed are not true," adding, "We deeply regret unverified suspicions being reported without clear evidence."

Furthermore, the official added that strict measures will be taken in response to these speculative reports.

Earlier, on the 2nd, the Joint Chiefs of Staff secured the North Korean man who crossed the barbed wire fence in Goseong, Gangwon Province, within about 13 hours and stated that he is "presumed to be a civilian." However, when asked if other possibilities were being investigated, they responded, "Yes."

Regarding the fact that the North Korean man crossed the eastern front line fence without triggering the installed sensor alarm, an investigation is underway. The official explained, "We are verifying whether the alarm did not sound despite the system functioning normally, or if there was a malfunction or error in the system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.