A soldier from the Korean People’s Army (KPA) has defected to the South at Panmunjom, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Monday.

The soldier crossed to South Korea from the North Korean side of the heavily guarded Joint Security Area (JSA) to Freedom House in the South, according to the JCS.

He was shot by a North Korean soldier but succeeded in crossing, the JCS added, and has been evacuated for medical treatment.

“Our military maintains full readiness while strengthening the alert in preparation for the possibility of provocations by the North Korean army,” the JCS said.

The soldier