A North Korean soldier last defected at the heavily guarded location in 2007. In 2015, after walking across the border, a North Korean soldier told South Korean investigators that he was fleeing widespread beatings and other abuse within his military barracks. In 2013, South Korean soldiers shot and killed a South Korean man who was trying to cross a river at the western end of the border. North Korean troops opened fire to stop him, and South Korean border guards fired back. One South Korean soldier and three North Korean border guards were killed.

Source: New York Times November 13, 2017 10:18 UTC