Seoul confirms North Korean defection as Pyongyang seals border

A suspected North Korean defector crossed the western maritime border into South Korea in September, Seoul’s military confirmed. This news comes as North Korea announced plans to permanently seal its southern border. The escape, reportedly by wooden boat, follows two other recent defections. North Korea has intensified border security with new landmines and barriers, though defector numbers increased to 196 in 2023.READ FULL