Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
A rare occurrence in the relationship of two allied countries involved in decades of conflict, North Korea and South Korea on this weekend.
A South Korean has reportedly defected to North Korea by crossing the heavily fortified border. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the movement of the residents on Saturday (1/1) at 21:20 local time in the eastern part of the demilitarized zone.
“We have confirmation that the person crossed the border of the Military Demarcation Line at around 10:40 p.m. and defected to North (Korea),” the JCS statement said. Reuters, Sunday (2/1).
The JCS could not confirm whether the person was alive, but had sent a notification to North Korea via a special military channel asking them to provide security.
For information, crossing the border between the two countries is an illegal act. Moreover, North Korea is implementing strict measures in dealing with the spread of the corona virus. North Korea since early 2020 has closed its border areas although it has not revealed any cases of infection with the virus.
In July, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared a state of national emergency and closed a city on the border.
The closures came after a North Korean defector, who he said had symptoms of Covid-19, illegally crossed the border illegally from South Korea into North Korea.
North Korea itself has extended its regional quarantine or lockdown and restrictions on movement between provinces. The move made the number of North Korean defectors arriving in South Korea the lowest in history.
On the one hand, relations between North and South Korea have turned sour again after talks with the US on nuclear disarmament broke down in 2019.
(Reuters/kid)
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