Paju, October 4: South Korean police have detained a North Korean defector in his 30s for attempting to return to the North by stealing a bus and crashing it into a barricade near the Unification Bridge, the border that separates the two Koreas. The defector ignored soldiers’ orders to stop and was apprehended on Tuesday after fleeing from Paju, where he stole the bus from a garage at 01:00 local time.

According to a BBC report, the man, who left North Korea around a decade ago, told police he wanted to return home after facing difficulties in the South, including several unpaid fines. Surveillance footage revealed him trying to access multiple vehicles before managing to drive away in the bus. He was caught half an hour later, and no signs of intoxication were reported. North Korea Executes 22-Year-Old Man for Listening to K-Pop Songs and Watching South Korean Films: Report.

While over 34,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the division of the Korean Peninsula, those seeking to return are rare. Only 31 defectors returned to the North between 2012 and 2022. Many who attempt to return cite personal struggles, such as economic hardship or a desire to reunite with family. Defectors in South Korea typically earn an average of 2.3 million won (USD 1,740) per month, but many find it difficult to adjust to life in the South. Kim Jong Un Orders Capital Punishment for ‘Corrupt’ Officials Who ‘Failed’ To Prevent Flooding and Landslides in North Korea: Report.

South Korean law prohibits crossing the border to the North without government approval. Violators, including defectors, face up to ten years in prison if convicted. Returns to North Korea carry significant risks, as some defectors have been imprisoned or subjected to re-education after their return.

This case follows a similar incident in January 2022, when another defector returned to the North after struggling to resettle in South Korea.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2024 08:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).