A North Korean soldier has been detained by South Korea's military after he crossed the heavily fortified border between the two countries.

The soldier is understood to have got through the demilitarised zone (DMZ) that is covered in barbed wire, landmines and extensive surveillance.

He is said to have "expressed an intent to defect", according to the South Korean Yonhap news agency.

"The military secured custody of one North Korean soldier in the central front on Tuesday night and relevant authorities are currently investigating the details," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

It is believed to be the first such crossing this year.

Over 34,500 North Koreans have defected and resettled in South Korea since records began in 1998, according to South Korea's unification ministry.

Last year, 224 people fled North Korea for South Korea. Of those, 198 were women while 26 were men.

Around 1,000 North Koreans defect to the South every year through China, but this soldier took the unusual step of traversing directly across the fortified border.

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In September last year, another North Korean soldier defected to the South across the the Military Demarcation Line.

Established at the end of the Korean War in 1953, it is guarded by mines, barbed wire fences, tank traps, watch towers and soldiers on both sides.

North Korea has remained in a nominal state of war with South Korea since their conflict between 1950 to 1953 ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.

It comes as North Korea commissioned a 5,000-tonne destroyer that leader Kim Jong Un seeks to expand the country's ability power at sea.

On Wednesday, North Korea's official news agency said Pyongyang believes the nuclear armament of his navy is progressing as planned.

(c) Sky News 2026: North Korean soldier crosses border into South Korea in suspected defection