South Korean general sacked over defector's return

In a photo taken on May 5, 2017 a soldier stands at the fence of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating north and south Korea, near Ganghwa, where a 24-year-old man surnamed Kim is believed to have swum back to the North after being investigated for rape allegations in the South. - AFP

SEOUL (AFP): A South Korean marine major-general was relieved of his command Friday (July 31) after the military failed to prevent a man's illegal defection back to the North, officials said.

The man's departure only came to light when Pyongyang -- which insists it has not had any coronavirus cases -- announced at the weekend that a "runaway" who had returned across the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone was suspected of having the disease.