S Korean man may have defected to DPRK: S Korea military

SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Tuesday said a South Korean man may have defected to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The barbed wires at the border between the two countries have been found cut open, the JCS said in a news release, noting that Kang Dong-lim, a 30-year-old man, has likely defected.

Kang has been wanted by the police since Sept. 25 for using violence, the JCS added.

The DPRK's official news agency KCNA reported earlier in the day that a 30-year-old South Korean man defected Monday to the DPRK after crossing the eastern part of the Military Demarcation Line.

The KCNA said Kang Tong Rim (identified as Kang Dong-lim by South Korea), who lived in the southern province of Jolla in South Korea, was pleased with his "accomplishment."

Kang, from Polgyo township of Posong county, served in the South Korean army from 2001 to 2003. During his service, he made several failed attempts to defect as he longed for the DPRK, the KCNA said.

He was now taken good care of by a relevant department of the DPRK, the KCNA added.