Seoul: A North Korean crossed the "neutral waters" of the Han River estuary near the inter-Korean border into South Korea last week, the military said Thursday, in what's presumed to be a defection to the South. South Korean troops secured the North Korean individual early last Thursday after detecting the person in the neutral zone of the Han River estuary located west of the inter-Korean land border.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the North Korean man is believed to have been found in waters off South Korea's Gyodong Island and has expressed intent to defect to the South. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that there were no unusual signs from North Korean troops at that time.
This incident marks the second time a North Korean has defected to the South since the Lee Jae Myung administration took office in June. Previously, in July, a North Korean civilian crossed the heavily fortified inter-Korean land border.