Another South Korean Army member fleeing to North Korea? The reality of the ２２nd Infantry Division, which is in charge of sloppy border security.

Photo by 대한민국 국군 Republic of Korea Armed Forces (licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Did South Korean soldiers flee to North Korea?

On January 1st of the new year, an unidentified person climbed over the iron fence from the South Korean side and entered the North Korean side, leading to the attack on South Korean troops including the 22nd Infantry Division of the South Korean Army on the Eastern Front in the area where this incident occurred. The Army is on emergency alert.

The 22nd Infantry Division, a unit located on this border, has caused various problems in the past. In June 1984, there was another incident involving a large firearm that resulted in 23 casualties.

In June 2004, a private on duty at battalion headquarters left his post with a firearm and 15 rounds of live ammunition and was captured eight hours later.

In October 2008, a private second class on guard duty committed suicide with a rifle.

On March 28, 2012, a soldier was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.

In 2005, two reserve sergeants and others were arrested a month later after seizing two K-2 rifles, six grenades, and 7,000 live rounds.

In 2005, a vessel believed to be a fishing boat headed for North Korea, and in October 2009, it was revealed that civilians had cut through iron fences and headed north.

In 2012, the so-called "knock defection incident" caused a stir in society. On October 2, 2012, North Korean soldiers crossed the border and knocked on the door of the living quarters, asking for asylum, but it turned out that the troops were unaware of the fact that the iron fence had been cut until then, and two generals Two territorial officers were reprimanded.

Even if the environment is harsh, is border security still okay?

The terrain is also difficult. The front boundary stretches for tens of kilometers, surrounded by rugged mountain ranges.

``Many soldiers are said to suffer from knee pain because the iron fence border line is very steep and goes up and down.As a result, guard duty is more difficult than in other divisions.This is also the reason why defections and incidents of North Korea are so common.