South Korean makes rare defection to North through demilitarised zone

An unidentified South Korean has made a rare defection to the North after making a daring escape through the heavily fortified demilitarised zone.

In a photo taken on June 2, 2017 Korean People's Army soldier 'Lieutenant Kim' poses for a portrait before the military demarcation line on the North Korean side of the Joint Security Area (JSA) with the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea. Picture: Ed Jones/AFP

An unidentified South Korean made a rare defection to the North after making a daring escape through the heavily fortified demilitarised zone, South Korean military officials said on Sunday.

The NY Post reports the defector was spotted by South Korean military surveillance near the eastern portion of the border, Joint Chiefs of Staff officers said.

The South sent troops to recover the individual, but failed and observed the person cross the border.

A South Korean soldier stands guard at the border village of Panmunjom. Picture: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

South Korea sent a message to North Korea to ensure the safety of the defector, but so far the North has not responded, an officer requesting anonymity told the Associated Press.

The defector dodged an estimated two million landmines inside and near the 250km-long, 4km-wide strip, which is also guarded by barbed wire fences, antitank traps and combat troops on both sides.

A North Korean soldier rolls a cigarette near the Yalu river near Sinuiju. Picture: Johannes Eisele/AFP

In September 2020, the North Korean military shot and killed a South Korean fisheries official found floating in its waters in line with what Seoul called strict anti-virus rules that permitted shooting anyone illegally crossing the border.

While it is incredibly rare for South Koreans to flee to the North, About 34,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the late 1990, typically through China and seldom by crossing the DMZ.

— with Post wires

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission