SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – On Sunday, a North Korean soldier made a rare defection to South Korea by crossing the heavily fortified border between the two nations. The South Korean military confirmed the incident through a statement from its Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicating that they had taken custody of the soldier, who expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea.

This defection marks the first time since August 2024 that a North Korean soldier has crossed into South Korea over the land border. In that previous case, a North Korean staff sergeant fled to the South via the Eastern section of the border. Despite these two incidents, defecting across the land border is uncommon for North Koreans due to the numerous risks involved.

The border, officially known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), stretches 248 kilometers (155 miles) in length and is only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide. However, it is heavily fortified with various military defenses, including land mines, tank traps, barbed wire fences, and combat troops. A notable incident in 2017 highlights the dangers of crossing this heavily guarded area, where a fleeing North Korean soldier was shot at approximately 40 times by North Korean soldiers while South Korean forces worked to rescue him.

Historically, the majority of the estimated 34,000 North Koreans who have defected to South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953 have done so by traversing the less secure border with China. This route is often seen as the primary escape path for those fleeing the oppressive regime in North Korea.

The current geopolitical climate between North and South Korea remains tense. Diplomatic efforts aimed at fostering better relations have seen little success. North Korea has consistently rebuffed outreach initiatives proposed by South Korea’s liberal President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office in June 2024 with the intention of promoting reconciliation between the two countries. His administration has faced significant challenges in navigating the complexities of North-South relations amidst escalating military posturing from Pyongyang.

The recent defection underscores the ongoing human rights issues faced by individuals in North Korea, as well as the precarious nature of inter-Korean relations, highlighting the risks that defectors take in seeking a better life.