According to multiple South Korean military sources, a North Korean defector managed to flee to South Korea by crossing “neutral waters” between the two Koreas on Thursday. The individual crossed the neutral zone of the Hangang River estuary, located west of the inter-Korean land border, and arrived on the South Korean island of Gyodong, located off the west coast, during the early hours of Thursday. Upon arrival, he expressed his intention to defect.
Official sources have revealed that the individual reached the island on foot, taking advantage of the low tide. This detail is very important to take into account, since the presence of two deserters had initially been reported, which suggests the possibility that one of them did not manage to complete the crossing.
This situation raises questions about the fate of the second individual and leaves much to think about regarding the difficult circumstances that defectors must face when trying to cross the border and escape the authoritarian regime.
South Korea monitors and secures defection of North Korean citizens
South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik was asked about the defection during a session of the parliamentary defense committee. In his response, he called the event a “successful operation” and noted that South Korean authorities had been able to identify and track the defector’s path from the point of departure. This means that the North Korean man’s movement was closely monitored, which made it possible to ensure his safe arrival on the South’s shores. Shin also noted that an investigation is underway to clarify the exact details of how the defection occurred.
In a statement to reporters, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed that relevant authorities are investigating the details of the incident. While no further details were provided, the statement stressed that no significant movements by the North Korean military have been detected, suggesting that the defection did not prompt an immediate military response.
Thursday’s defection came about 10 months after a group of four North Korean citizens, comprising three women and one man, crossed the inter-Korean eastern maritime border on a wooden boat in October 2023.
This earlier incident is significant in looking at the continuing influx of North Korean defectors, who are fleeing in search of better living conditions amid chronic food shortages and political oppression in North Korea. In the first half of this year, the number of North Koreans arriving in the South reached 105, up slightly from 99 in the same period last year.
In addition to Thursday’s escape, another North Korean citizen, in this case a soldier, crossed the border into South Korea early Tuesday. These are the latest defections, which come amid South Korea’s propaganda campaign against the authoritarian regime (aimed at raising awareness among the North’s population) in response to North Korea’s repeated launches of balloons loaded with garbage.
The South Korean military detected the soldier north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas in the eastern section of the border. An operation was immediately carried out to help him finish crossing into the South.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the desertion of the soldier, who was believed to have held the rank of second sergeant. Authorities are investigating how the escape occurred. However, so far, no unusual movements have been detected by the North Korean military.
Number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients on the rise in South Korea
South Korea’s response to Pyongyang’s balloon campaign
Meanwhile, due to the increasing number of North Koreans being welcomed into the country, South Korea has stepped up its propaganda efforts against the Pyongyang regime. Since mid-July, authorities have been carrying out daily anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts via loudspeakers installed at the border. These include news and K-pop music.
The move comes in response to North Korea’s repeated launches of balloons laden with garbage, a move that began on May 28 in retaliation for balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by North Korean defectors and civic groups in South Korea.
In total, North Korea has launched more than 3,600 balloons in what is seen as a tit-for-tat measure against attempts by South Korea and its allies to weaken the regime’s control over information reaching the North Korean population. These events demonstrate the heightened tension between the two Koreas, and the growing challenges facing North Koreans trying to flee Kim Jong-un’s regime.
Source: https://reporteasia.com/sociedad/2024/08/21/tension-peninsula-coreana-aumentan-deserciones/
