A North Korean citizen was confirmed to have defected by sea at the end of last month. South Korean military officials reported that they tracked and monitored the individual for over 10 hours before verifying their intention to defect and initiating a rescue operation.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other sources, South Korean forces first detected an unidentified person via surveillance equipment north of the Han River’s neutral zone on the night of July 30. They continued to track the individual’s movements for more than 10 hours through vigilant operations.
Military sources revealed that Marines from the 2nd Division spotted the defector swimming with Styrofoam tied to their body in the waters off Gyodong Island, Ganghwa County, Incheon.
At approximately 4:00 a.m. on July 31, South Korean forces rescued the individual, who was signaling for help from a coastal patrol boat south of the Han River’s neutral zone. The rescue took place in waters about 11 meters (about 36 feet) deep, with the tide rising after low tide had passed.
During the operation, naval personnel asked, “This is the Republic of Korea Navy. Do you intend to defect?” After confirming the individual’s intention to defect, they took them into custody. This information was subsequently shared with the United Nations Command.
A military spokesperson announced plans to commend the personnel and units involved in the successful operation.