Another North Korean soldier defected to South Korea

The South Korean military said a North Korean soldier defected across the land border this morning.

» North Korean soldier who defected gets lifetime cake from South Korean company

North Korean soldiers defected to South Korea in November. Photo: UNC.

The “low-ranking” North Korean soldier appeared in front of a South Korean guard post at 8:04 a.m. on a foggy day, Yonhap reported, citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Authorities are investigating the soldier’s intentions.

According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, North Korean soldiers moved across the area in the middle of the South-North Korea border.

No gunfire was heard and there were no unusual movements by North Korean border troops, a JCS official said.

He is the fourth North Korean soldier to defect to South Korea this year. In November, a North Korean soldier named Oh Chong-song drove across the Joint Safety Area (JSA) in the truce village of Panmunjom to defect to South Korea. The South Korean military said Oh was chased by four North Korean soldiers who fired about 40 bullets, five of which hit Oh.

Location of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea. Graphic: CNN.

Oh was rescued by three South Korean soldiers who crawled to his aid and then rushed him to the hospital. South Korean doctors performed emergency surgery and transfused 12 liters of blood to save Oh's life. According to the doctors, Oh had hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and a severe parasitic infection. Oh's health is improving.

According to VNE