A young North Korean swam across the border with South Korea, despite existing security measures that must prevent any passage between the two countries.
The man allegedly used obsolete surveillance equipment to achieve his ends, which is causing controversy in Seoul.
Six hours in the cold water of the Sea of Japan with a wetsuit and fins: a North Korean eager to reach the South managed to swim across the border.
His primary goal was not to get caught by the authorities, both North Korean and South Korean.
The man is a civilian in his twenties who told authorities he had defected.
A story worthy of a spy film that arouses controversy in South Korea, where the surveillance system is singled out.
A leak despite the monitoring devices
The explanation of his career is incredible.
The young man is engulfed in a water pipe which passes under barbed wire which should, in theory, prevent any movement between the two territories.
He had put on a padded jacket under his suit and thanks to the favorable currents, he defied all surveillance systems.
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The young man still set off anti-intrusion alarms several times.
He even appeared on video surveillance screens, but the South Korean military failed to locate him precisely.
The soldiers finally found him after a three-hour search.
He fell asleep, exhausted from the physical effort he had to make in water between 5 and 10 degrees.
South Korean Defense Minister auditioned
Facing the military, he explained that he had just defected and wanted to find refuge in South Korea.
In Seoul, this escape created a huge controversy.
The soldiers are accused of not having followed the procedures in accordance with the situation.
But above all, the obsolete surveillance and protection system is also singled out.
The South Korean defense minister himself had to admit during a parliamentary hearing that the surveillance systems were outdated and malfunctioning.