DMZ on the central front in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do [Yonhap News file photo]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on the 24th that it had secured custody of one North Korean soldier who crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the central front on the night of the 23rd.

The JCS stated, "Relevant authorities are currently investigating the details."

It is reported that the soldier has expressed a desire to defect.

The area where the North Korean soldier crossed south is in the vicinity of Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do. It is reported that the military conducted a guidance operation in the southern part of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at approximately 10:00 p.m. the previous day to secure the soldier, who had crossed the MDL on foot.

The soldier is male, and his rank and other personal details are not yet known. It is reported that there have been no unusual movements by the North Korean military thus far.

Recently, in line with its policy of defining inter-Korean relations as "two hostile states," North Korea has been engaged in border fortification efforts north of the MDL, including land clearing, construction of tactical roads, and the installation of barbed wire and landmines.

It is reported that North Korean border fortification work was also underway north of the MDL in the area where this defection took place.

This is the fourth defection since the inauguration of the current administration, and the second involving a North Korean soldier.

Previously, in October of last year, one North Korean soldier crossed the MDL on the central front and expressed a desire to defect; the military secured custody and transferred him to relevant authorities.

In addition, one male civilian crossed the MDL on the mid-western front on July 3 of last year, and another male civilian was rescued south of the midline in the Han River estuary on the 31st of the same month.