N. Korean soldier defects to S. Korea: military

A North Korean soldier crossed the border into South Korea early August 20 in the latest defection amid Seoul's propaganda campaign in response to Pyongyang's s repeated launches of trash-carrying balloons, Report informs referring to The Korea Times.

The South Korean military detected the soldier from north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in the eastern section of the border and conducted an operation to help him arrive in the South.

The North Korean, wearing a military uniform, is believed to have walked southward through a path located near the Donghae road along the east coast — one of the two rare roads connecting the two Koreas where the North has installed mines and removed street lights.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed the defection of the soldier, reportedly a staff sergeant, and said relevant authorities are conducting an investigation into how the defection took place. It did not provide further details on the defector.

No unusual movements by the North Korean military have been detected so far, the JCS added.