North, Another Defection Despite Fortification Efforts [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

One North Korean Man Defected to the West Sea on the 17th of Last Month
North Korea's Frontline Security Reinforcement Interpreted as an Effort to Prevent Internal Unrest

North Korea has begun 'fortifying' the area around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) by building barriers and laying landmines, but defections to the South have continued.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the military on the 11th, in the early morning of September 17, which was during Chuseok, a North Korean male resident defected by crossing the Northern Limit Line (NLL) near Baengnyeongdo in the West Sea on a small wooden boat. It is reported that this man defected alone, and the military detected the boat with surveillance equipment before it crossed the NLL and guided the defection. A military official stated, "The operation was carried out normally from the beginning."

This is the third known defection of a North Korean personnel in the past two months. Previously, on August 8, a North Korean resident came to the South through the neutral waters of the Han River estuary, and on August 20, a North Korean soldier crossed the MDL and defected.

North Korea has recently strengthened front-line area security and blocked inter-Korean connection routes. This is interpreted as an effort to prevent internal unrest and personnel outflow. Nevertheless, various forms of defections continue.

General Kim Myung-soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated at the National Assembly National Defense Committee’s audit held at the Yongsan Joint Chiefs of Staff building the day before, regarding North Korea’s announcement of complete severance of land routes between the North and South and fortification, "I think it is to block the outflow of internal personnel to the outside."

The General Staff of the North Korean Army announced in a statement the day before, "From the 9th, construction work will proceed to completely cut off roads and railways connected to the South Korean side and fortify them with solid defensive fortifications."

North Korea had already foreshadowed this severance since early this year. The term ‘border line,’ which was not used in the past, appeared. In January, the term ‘land border line’ was used, and in February, the term ‘maritime border line’ for Yeonpyeongdo and Baengnyeongdo was used. Currently, North Korea is conducting barren land leveling work within the DMZ. Some view this as North Korea building a ‘Berlin Wall’ along the 248 km Military Demarcation Line. Some speculate that these blockade measures are operations to guard against defections of North Korean soldiers.

General Kim explained that there are land routes connecting the North and South such as the Donghae Line and Gyeongui Line railways, National Road No. 7 along the East Sea, and the Hwasalmeori Ridge passage. He said that landmines began to be laid on the Donghae and Gyeongui Lines from December last year, and by August this year, sleepers and rails had already been removed.