North Korea Soldier Defects Across DMZ
SEOUL — A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea on Saturday by walking across the demilitarized zone that forms the border between the two countries, the Defense Ministry announced.
The ministry said the soldier, identified as Kim Son Il, reached a South Korean military outpost after crossing the heavily fortified border about 40 miles northeast of Seoul.
The defector was from the 2nd Platoon of the 5th Company of North Korea’s 25th Division, the ministry said.
So far this year, at least seven North Korean soldiers, including Kim, have defected to South Korea.
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