Kim Jong-un suddenly sends close aides to the border

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has dispatched a senior general to the border in an effort to reorganize border personnel following the defection of a soldier to South Korea.

The Daily Star reported that Ri Myong-su, Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, has just inspected the border with South Korea. This general is one of Kim Jong-un's closest allies. He is said to have been ordered to close the border to ensure no one can defect.

Kim Jong Un sends General Ri Myong-su to patrol the border. Photo: Daily Star

Previously, 24-year-old North Korean soldier Oh Chong Song made a spectacular escape to South Korea. He drove a jeep across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), was shot 5 times, endured the pain and hid for 30 minutes before being rescued by US-South Korean troops.

Shortly thereafter, Chairman Kim Jong-un dismissed all border guards on duty and punished all commanders of border posts at the Joint Security Area (JSA).

"It is unusual for a commander-in-chief – one of the country's highest-ranking officials – to visit the area where the defection took place," a source told the Korean press, Daily Star reported.

Following the incident, North Korea built a new gate, a checkpoint and a concrete wall on the bridge, called the 72-hour bridge.

Mr. Ri's presence at the JSA and overseeing the personnel restructuring there demonstrates the seriousness of the defection to Chairman Kim Jong Un. One of the new tasks that General Ri was assigned was to select personnel for duty in the DMZ.

Typically, soldiers deployed to the JSA are children of North Korea's upper class, loyal to the ruling Workers' Party.

"To prevent similar defections at the JSA, North Korea will likely be more careful in selecting soldiers to be sent to guard posts, by closely evaluating their family backgrounds," a source said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of fighter jets and thousands of US-South Korean troops began the Vigilant Ace exercise – a show of force near North Korea from December 4-8.

According to Vietnamnet.vn