A North Korean soldier has defected across the DMZ

A North Korean soldier on Saturday defected to South Korea, crossing a fortified area of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) before he was found by South Korean troops.

The South Korean military plans to question the soldier as to how and why he chose to defect. This development could hinder recent progress in inter-Korean relations, where negotiators have sought to calm military hostility.

Escapes across the DMZ are rare because it is so heavily guarded and armed. Most of the estimated 32,000 North Koreans who have defected have done so by crossing the northern border into China.

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