North Korean man crosses into South in second defection of the summer | NK News
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October 06, 2026Oct 06, 2026

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North Korean man crosses into South in second defection of the summer

Escapee used improvised flotation to cross into ROK territory via maritime border with joint investigation underway

A North Korean man swam across the maritime border near South Korea’s Gyodong Island late last month, marking the second apparent defection under President Lee Jae-myung’s administration, according to Seoul’s defense ministry on Thursday.

Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense told NK News it identified a North Korean individual around the neutral zone of the Han River on July 31 and handed them over to relevant authorities. The ministry added that there were no unusual movements by North Korean forces at the time.

“As far as I know, this person simply drifted in through the water,” a defense ministry official said