Seoul – A North Korean soldier was taken into custody after crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on Sunday, the South Korean military said. Spotters from the Joint Chiefs of Staff tracked the individual near the MDL early in the day, and authorities are now probing his motives. This is the first suspected defection of a North Korean soldier since the Lee Jae‑Myung administration took office.
Earlier in September, a North Korean merchant ship bumped the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea, the de‑facto maritime border between the Koreas. On September 26, the 140‑metre tanker “Toksong” sailed from a North Korean port, entered the NLL near Baengnyeong Island, and stayed on the southern side for about an hour before turning back. The South Korean Navy fired roughly 60 warning shots to halt the vessel.
During the incident, a South Korean frigate was operating in the area and a dozen Chinese ships were nearby. Commanders are investigating whether the North Korean ship crossed the line to avoid the Chinese vessels. Reuters reports that the tanker even changed its automatic identification system (AIS) to China and displayed a Chinese flag to conceal its real identity while crossing the maritime border.
These events underscore the tense security situation along Korea’s land and sea lines, with South Korea bolstering surveillance after the soldier’s defection and monitoring maritime incursions near the NLL.
Source: ianslive
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