North Korean soldier crosses border, expresses intention to defect: JCS

A North Korean soldier crossed into South Korea and was taken into custody by the military near the central stretch of the front line late Tuesday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday.

“Our military secured custody of one North Korean soldier in the central front on Tuesday night,” the JCS said.

The soldier "walked south across the border at around 10 p.m. Tuesday and was unarmed," according to the military.

“After detecting a thermal signature, the military carried out a standard guidance operation, and there were no signs of pursuit by North Korean forces,” the JCS said.

Relevant authorities are investigating the details of the case. The soldier reportedly expressed an intention to defect.

The case marks the fourth known defection since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June 2025 and the second involving a North Korean soldier.

Last October, a North Korean soldier crossed the military demarcation line in the central stretch of the front line and expressed an intention to defect. The military secured custody of the individual and transferred the case to the relevant authorities.

Separately, a male North Korean civilian crossed the MDL in the central-western front on July 3 last year. Another male civilian was rescued on July 31 in waters south of the median line in the Han River neutral zone.

BY JANG GU-SEUL [[email protected]]