20s North Korean Sergeant Defects to South Crossing Military Demarcation Line

Military: "Tracking since moving south... Operation underway"
On the 8th, a North Korean resident also defected across the Han River

In the early hours of the 20th, one North Korean soldier crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Gangwon region and defected. The individual is in their 20s and holds the rank of sergeant.

A military official stated, "One North Korean soldier crossed the MDL and expressed their intention to defect early this morning," adding, "Our military tracked and monitored the individual from the moment they moved southward from north of the eastern front MDL, conducted a normal defection inducement operation, and successfully secured the defector."

North Korean soldier defection
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The North Korean soldier reportedly defected on foot within the operational area of the Army's 22nd Division in Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province. The military authorities handed over the defector to relevant agencies and are currently investigating the process of moving south and the background of the defection.

Earlier, on the 8th, one North Korean resident also defected to the south by crossing the North-South neutral waters of the Han River estuary.

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