Its Border With North Korea Is Frequently Breached, Korean Defense Minister Holds An Investigation

JAKARTA - South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook apologized for the re-invasion of the South Korean border with North Korea. The former General of the Army apologized, because it was related to security.

It has been mentioned again, because the breach of this border area has occurred several times. The most recent was Tuesday 16 February. He also promised to try to prevent this incident from happening again.

"As minister, I apologize to the people who are disappointed by the lax border controls," Suh told the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, reported Koreatimes.

"After thoroughly investigating the incident, the military will take steps to prevent a similar incident from recurring," he added.

The incident of breaching the boundary of the territory last Tuesday attracted attention, after successfully crossing the border in the eastern region by swimming undetected.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said a North Korean citizen was arrested at the Civil Control Line (CCL) in the eastern border city of Goseong, Gangwon Province, on the same day. The CCL is the buffer zone of the Demilitarized Zone. The JCS added that he likely swam south near the Unification Observatory and passed through a drainage tunnel located at the bottom of the iron fence on the inter-Korean border.

Although surveillance cameras saw him several times after swimming, the military failed to take appropriate action. Meanwhile the drainage tunnels are also not well equipped to prevent infiltration. The North Korean man was detained following a three-hour chase after he was first spotted by surveillance cameras at a checkpoint. He is currently being questioned by investigators. The man in his 20s is reportedly planning to defect to the South.

"We are taking this situation seriously and an on-site investigation is being carried out by order of the ground forces. Depending on the results of the investigation, we will take further action and take firm action," JCS said in a statement.

However, the fact that breaches have occurred several times and most recently on Tuesday, the intruder could enter deep into South Korean territory, has come under criticism and has been called a hole in the security system.

"Military authorities said the man was arrested near the CCL checkpoint, which means he walked fearlessly for several kilometers from the beach," representative Yoon Sang-hyun, an independent lawmaker, said on Facebook.

"If it was an armed invasion by North Korean special forces troops, we would fall into uncontrollable chaos. Border security was breached and the initial response was bad, in other words, it is a prime example of a hole in our defenses," he continued.

It is known, in November 2020 a North Korean citizen also crossed the border in Goseong. He was only arrested after about 14 hours.

Earlier, July of the same year, the military failed to pay attention and prevent North Korean defectors, who are facing sexual harassment charges, from returning to North Korea. The military learned of the incident after reports from North Korean state media.

In 2019, a North Korean wooden ship carrying four sailors crossed the sea border and arrived at Samcheok Port, Gangwon Province, 130 kilometers south of the Northern Boundary Line (NLL), undetected by the military.

Meanwhile in October 2012, the eastern frontline unit was surprised by a defector from North Korea who managed to cross the border without being noticed, and arrived at the border guard barracks.