A North Korean defected to the South by crossing the Yellow Sea last month, ROK authorities belatedly revealed on Friday, the latest escape over the maritime border as it becomes more difficult to defect via China.

The military did not provide any details about the presumed DPRK citizen, only stating that it handed the individual over to “relevant authorities.”

South Korea’s Ministry of Unification told NK News that the individual is currently undergoing post-defection procedures. 

All North Korean escapees go through several weeks of security investigation by the National Intelligence Service to prevent the infiltration of DPRK spies, then spend