In a rare and perilous defection, a North Korean man reportedly crossed the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) into South Korea early Thursday, navigating one of the world’s most dangerous borders on foot and under the cover of darkness.
According to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the man was detected around 3 a.m., moving slowly and deliberately through the mine-strewn buffer zone that stretches roughly 150 miles across the Korean Peninsula and spans over two miles in width.
Officials said he appeared to have taken great care to avoid detection during daylight hours, concealing himself in bushes until darkness fell.
Shortly before midnight, the man reportedly emerged in a shallow stream close to South Korean territory. Soldiers monitoring the area made contact with him by voice. “Who are you?” he asked, according to military sources. He was unarmed.
“We’re South Korean military,” a sergeant replied. “We’ll guide you safely.”
Defections across the DMZ are exceedingly rare, particularly in recent years as North Korea has tightened its borders. Most defectors flee first into China and eventually make their way to South Korea via third countries.
But escape attempts across the DMZ—guarded by barbed wire, land mines, surveillance drones, and heavily armed patrols—are uncommon and extraordinarily dangerous.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has in recent years reinforced border security, installing new fencing and rearming soldiers along the DMZ. Reports also indicate he has issued shoot-on-sight orders for anyone attempting to flee the country.
South Korean authorities confirmed the man was detained for questioning and would be processed under the country’s security and asylum protocols. No further details about his identity or motives were disclosed.
Military officials noted there was no unusual activity reported on the northern side of the border following the crossing. The last confirmed defection through the DMZ occurred nearly a year ago, when a North Korean soldier crossed near the eastern coast.
Over the past two decades, more than 34,000 North Koreans have resettled in the South. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 1,000 defectors typically arrived each year. That number has since plummeted; only 38 made it to South Korea in the first three months of this year, according to government data.
The man’s daring escape serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of division on the Korean Peninsula—and the extraordinary risks still taken in the pursuit of freedom.
[READ MORE: Netanyahu Optimistic Hostage Release Deal Could Be Finalized ‘In a Few Days’]
