A rare incident of a direct land crossing has occurred between North and South Korea, where a North Korean civilian defected to the South with the help of South Korean military forces. The operation took 20 hours and involved several troops navigating dense vegetation and landmine hazards.
The defector was first detected by South Korean military surveillance equipment near a shallow stream inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). He had stayed still during daylight hours to avoid capture and was difficult to track due to the thick forest. South Korean troops approached him at night, made contact near the Military Demarcation Line, and successfully secured custody.
The defector crossed the DMZ and joined the South Korean troops, who escorted him south out of the area. The operation highlights the risks associated with attempting a direct crossing through the heavily mined and fortified buffer zone between North and South Korea.
This incident is one of few recent examples of direct crossings between the two countries. Most North Koreans attempt to flee by entering China across the Yalu or Tumen River and then travel through third countries before reaching South Korea.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/north-korean-man-makes-rare-direct-land-crossing-to-south/a-73150358