North Korean fleeing over sea border to South Korea, reports
A North Korean has reportedly defected to South Korea by crossing the heavily guarded inter-Korean maritime border. The man traversed the mouth of the Han River in the western part of the Korean Peninsula and eventually reached the South Korean island of Gyodong, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing military sources. The background of the incident is being investigated by the Ministry of Defense.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic and North Korea's subsequent border closure, many North Koreans left their impoverished and authoritarian country each year in search of a better life. Sea crossings were relatively rare for defectors, with most fleeing to China. Many of them later ended up in South Korea.
The number of North Korean defectors arriving in South Korea has been increasing since last year. According to data from the Ministry of Unification in Seoul, a total of 105 North Koreans reached the southern neighbor in the first half of 2024.
The 'background' of North Koreans defecting to South Korea often involves escaping their country's impoverished and authoritarian conditions. In recent years, there's been an increase in defectors, with the 'background' of their decision often being driven by a desire for a better life.
