A North Korean soldier has crossed into South Korea through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world. South Korea’s military said the soldier crossed the border on Tuesday night and was taken into custody by South Korean forces. Authorities are now investigating his identity and the motives surrounding the escape. The defection is believed to be the first by a North Korean soldier since October 2025 and comes despite years of intensified border security measures ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The regime has strengthened defenses along the border with additional barbed-wire fencing, land mines, and surveillance systems. Troops are reportedly instructed to shoot potential defectors. Crossings through the DMZ remain extremely rare; most North Koreans who flee the country typically travel through China before making their way to South Korea. Defections have fallen sharply in the last few years as border controls have tightened following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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