North Korean Avoids Land Mines To Cross Dmz Into South Korea As Seoul Softens Stance On Pyongyang

A North Korean man walked crossed 1 of nan astir vulnerable borders successful nan world and into South Korean custody precocious Thursday.

The unidentified man, who was unarmed, crossed nan heavy fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), The Associated Press reported.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said troops tracked him adjacent nan central-west information of nan separator and guided him done nan mine-laced terrain earlier taking him into custody.

Military officials person not said whether nan man was attempting to defect. The American-led United Nations Command was notified, and nary different activity was observed connected nan North Korean side.

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A North Korean subject defender post, left, and loudspeaker are seen from Paju, South Korea, adjacent nan separator pinch North Korea, June 12. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The crossing comes amid increasing disapproval of South Korea’s displacement successful strategy toward nan North.

Since taking agency June 11, South Korea’s wide president, Lee Jae Myung, has taken steps to easiness clash pinch Pyongyang. He halted loudspeaker broadcasts that blasted messages into nan North and moved to prohibition balloon launches by activists carrying pro-democracy leaflets, according to The Associated Press.

Critics pass Seoul's stance weakens deterrence and sends nan incorrect connection to Kim Jong Un's regime. 

A North Korean subject defender post, loudspeaker, apical left, and South Korean service soldiers, bottommost right, are seen from Paju, South Korea, adjacent nan separator pinch North Korea, connected June 12. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Border incidents betwixt nan 2 Koreas are besides becoming much frequent. In April, 10 North Korean troops concisely crossed nan subject demarcation statement earlier retreating aft informing shots. Last twelvemonth saw 3 akin incursions, according to The Associated Press.

Thursday’s incident progressive not a group of soldiers, but a azygous man crossing from North Korea into nan South. It is considered progressively uncommon for imaginable defectors to take this route; emblematic North Koreran defectors return a way done China instead.

Neighborhoods of North Korea's Kaepoong colony are seen from nan study station successful Ganghwa, adjacent nan separator pinch South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Diplomatic talks betwixt nan U.S. and North Korea person been stiff since 2019, erstwhile denuclearization negotiations collapsed. Since then, Kim has poured resources into expanding his atomic arsenal and many times threatened some Seoul and Washington.

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President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that nan U.S. will respond forcefully to immoderate aggression. His management remains committed to a beardown confederation pinch South Korea and Japan, and to keeping a adjacent watch connected Pyongyang.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.