North Korean soldier defects after crossing DMZ, says South

He was detected by thermal imaging equipment overnight, said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC).

The unidentified man was an active-duty soldier who expressed interest in defecting to Seoul, said the JCS.

Dozens of people escape North Korea every year but defections across the DMZ are extremely dangerous and rare.

In November 2017, a North Korean soldier was shot at 40 times by his fellow troops as he crossed the zone.