December 06, 2023
COVID-19

Seoul: Defector likely returned North through a drain, may not have COVID-19

Authorities believe that a bag left near the drain likely belongs to a defector surnamed Kim

Correction at 15:50 KST (July 28): This article has been amended to fix the time the individual likely arrived in Ganghwa Island according to police authorities.

A North Korean defector likely returned to the DPRK by traveling through a drain from the South's Ganghwa Island, leaving behind a bag in the process, the South Korean military stated on Monday. The defector may also be the same person that North Korea identified as a potential COVID-19 carrier in a state media report published on Sunday.