Seoul: A North Korean soldier has been taken into custody after crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on Sunday, the military said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported detecting and tracking the individual near the MDL earlier in the day, with authorities planning to conduct an investigation into the motive behind this action.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this incident marks the first presumed defection by a North Korean soldier since the Lee Jae Myung government came into power. The authorities are now focused on understanding the circumstances and reasons that led to this rare occurrence, which has garnered significant attention from both domestic and international observers. The investigation aims to shed light on the soldier’s intentions and any potential implications for inter-Korean relations.