N. Korean defector undetected for hours after swimming to South

Visitors looking north across the Demilitarised Zone on Jan 1, 2021. A North Korean defector managed to cross into the South, but was not spotted by border guards until several hours later. - AFP

SEOUL (AFP): A North Korean defector wore a diving suit and fins during a daring six-hour swim around one of the world's most fortified borders, a Seoul official said, and was caught only after apparently falling asleep.

Bungling South Korean forces did not spot the man's audacious exploit despite him appearing several times on CCTV after he landed and triggering alarms, drawing heavy criticism from media and opposition MPs.