Teenage North Korean soldier crosses DMZ to defect to the south

A North Korean soldier has made a rare bid to defect to South Korea by crossing the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two countries. The teenager walked up to a South Korean guard post in Gangwon province’s Hwacheon county around 8.00am local time after walking across the world’s most heavily militarised border. No gunfire was exchanged as the soldier approached guards and expressed his wish to defect, officials from the South Korean Defence Ministry said.

We’ve confirmed his will to defect after he reached our guard post.

South Korea military spokesman

The soldier was taken into custody and an investigation has been launched by South Korean officials. More than 1,000 North Korean soldiers defect to the South ever year, although it is rare for anybody to attempt to cross the heavily mined DMZ. Most defectors travel to South Korea via China. The last crossing via the DMZ took place in 2012.

Asia-Pacific North Korea soldier