North Korean Soldier Shockingly Defects To South Korea On Foot

A North Korean soldier has unexpectedly defected to South Korea, crossing the border on foot in the early hours of August 20.

The defector is a soldier in his 20s, who was reported to have crossed into South Korean territory through Goseong, Gangwon Province — a region near the heavily militarized border between the two countries.

According to military sources, the soldier managed to reach the area controlled by South Korea’s 22nd Division. Once detected by South Korean forces, the soldier expressed his intention to defect. The defector’s rank is reported to be a sergeant, though further details about his identity and motivations remain undisclosed.

South Korean military personnel — who were conducting routine surveillance — spotted the soldier as he approached the Military Demarcation Line. After confirming his intentions, the military successfully facilitated his defection to the South. This incident marks another instance of North Korean military personnel risking their lives to leave the country, often under dangerous and difficult circumstances.

This defection follows another incident earlier this month when a North Korean civilian crossed into South Korea through the neutral waters of the Han River estuary. The civilian’s defection was the first of its kind via the West Sea in over a year.

South Korean authorities are currently handling the situation, likely seeking to gather further information from the defector.