North Korean Man Crosses Heavily Guarded DMZ into South Korea

A North Korean man crossed the heavily fortified DMZ into South Korea and was taken into custody after a 20-hour operation by South Korean troops. The man, found unarmed in the central-western DMZ, was guided to safety, though it’s unclear if it was a defection. The incident follows recent political changes in South Korea, with new President Lee Jae-myung advocating dialogue with North Korea, reversing his predecessor’s hardline stance. Despite efforts to ease tensions, relations remain strained, with North Korea still viewing the South as a "principal enemy" amid stalled diplomacy since the failed 2019 U.S.–North Korea denuclearisation talks.