Military Secures Custody of North Korean Civilian Male Who Crossed MDL in Central-Western Front (Comprehensive)

Waited for About 20 Hours in the Bushes Before Moving

The South Korean military has taken custody of a North Korean civilian who crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and moved southward in the central-western front area. The individual has been handed over to the relevant authorities, who are expected to investigate the reasons for his southward movement.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 4th, the military authorities secured custody of an unarmed North Korean male civilian late at night the previous day in the MDL area of the central-western front. There were no unusual movements by the North Korean military during the process of securing the individual.

On the 9th, when the high-level inter-Korean talks were held, winter migratory birds were flying between the South and North guard posts along the Military Demarcation Line near the Imjingang River in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. 2018.1.9. Paju - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@asiae.co.kr

The military identified and tracked the individual from around 3 to 4 a.m. the previous day in the MDL area. The civilian remained stationary during the day in a bushy riverside area near the MDL, only beginning to move after nightfall. The South Korean military operations team approached as closely as possible and, late at night, escorted the individual to a safe area.

The area where the civilian crossed southward is part of the central-western front, characterized by winding streams and dense vegetation. Since the boundary is formed by a natural river, it appears there were no additional obstacles preventing the individual's southward movement.

A military official explained, "There may have been barbed wire installed on the North Korean side as part of border demarcation efforts, but in this area, the MDL is effectively a river, so there were no separate obstacles."

After securing custody of the civilian, the military also reported the incident to the United Nations Command.

The specific purpose of the civilian's southward movement will soon be investigated by the relevant authorities, but it appears likely that he intended to defect. A military official stated, "The intention to defect and other details will need to be investigated by the relevant authorities," adding, "Our military operations team made contact, confirmed his identity, and guided him as he followed."