North Korean soldier suspected of defecting crosses demilitarised zone into South Korea

By Nathan Rennolds Published on 25/06/2026 - 10:23 GMT+2•Updated 10:25 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp According to data from South Korea's Ministry of Unification, more than 34,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since its records began in 1998. A North Korean soldier suspected of defecting reportedly crossed the Korean demilitarised zone into South Korea on Tuesday, where they were taken into custody. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the military had "secured custody of one North Korean soldier in the central front Tuesday night and relevant authorities are currently investigating the details," Yonhap news agency reported. The demilitarised zone is heavily fortified with barbed wire, land mines and extensive surveillance, making it one of the world's most tightly secured borders. According to data from South Korea's Ministry of Unification, more than 34,000 North Koreans, including 899 military personnel, have defected to the South since its records began in 1998. In 2025, 223 North Koreans defected, per the ministry. Around 89% of those defectors were women, it says. People walk in the street of the Central District in Pyongyang, North Korea, Monday, June 22, 2026. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. North Korea's 26 million-strong population live largely in isolation from the rest of the world, with many suffering from poverty and food shortages. Its isolation is often linked to the nation's guiding principle of "Juche," or self-reliance, the idea that it should be politically independent and economically and militarily self-sufficient. Despite this, North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, who took power following the death of his father Kim Jong Il in 2011, has sought to build close ties with Moscow and Beijing in recent years. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Xi Jinping meets Kim Jong Un as China and North Korea tighten alliance North Korea's Kim calls on military to bolster frontline defences against 'arch enemy' North Korean soldier suspected of defecting crosses demilitarised zone into South Korea North Korea Kim Jong-un South Korea