Korea conflict
North Koreans arrested in South Korea after crossing the border
The border between the two Koreas is raised militarily and is almost impassable. Nevertheless, a man has now succeeded in the dangerous route. His motifs are still unclear.
A North Korean was arrested after crossing the highly equipped border with South Korea. As the official news agency Yonhap reports, the man is said to have passed the inner Korean border late Thursday evening (local time). There he was initially held by the South Korean military. The exact background and motifs of the man are currently being examined. So far, it is unclear whether it is a targeted attempt to escape.
Especially before Corona pandemic and the subsequent border closure by North Korea, numerous North Koreans had left their impoverished and authoritarian governed country every year looking for a better life. Most fled across the border to China. From there, many continue to travel to a Southeast Asian third country and are looking for refuge in the South Korean embassy.
Crossings across the inner Korean border, on the other hand, are considered to be extremely dangerous and rare. The two Koreas are separated from a demarcation line up to four kilometers wide.
The number of incoming North Korean refugees in South Korea has been increasing again since 2023. According to figures from the Ministry of Association in Seoul, a total of 236 North Koreans reached the neighboring country in the south over various paths. Before pandemic, it was up to a thousand people a year.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
