South Korean authorities have taken a North Korean soldier into custody after he crossed the heavily fortified inter-Korean border, the Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing South Korea's military.
The crossing is believed to have been a defection from the North, according to Yonhap.
"The military secured one North Korean soldier in the central front Tuesday night and relevant authorities are currently investigating the details," Yonhap quoted South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying in a message to media.
The military did not provide further details.
The two neighbouring countries are separated by a heavily fortified and closely monitored buffer zone along the military demarcation line.
According to reports, the latest border crossing by a North Korean is the first such case this year.
More than 30,000 North Koreans now live in South Korea after fleeing their largely isolated homeland, which is subject to international sanctions.
Most flee across North Korea's northern border into China before reaching South Korea via a third country. Crossings of the inter-Korean border are extremely rare.
South Korea grants North Koreans citizenship after a thorough screening process, which Pyongyang regards as an affront.
North and South Korea remain technically at war. An armistice was signed after the 1950-53 Korean War, but no peace treaty followed.
