Shots fired at North Korea soldiers searching for defector: report

Another North Korean soldier has defected to South Korea - the second known defection in about five weeks.

A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea, according to an official. Source: Getty Images

A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea early on Thursday, a South Korean defence ministry official said.

It is the second known defection from the North in about five weeks.

The low-ranking North Korean soldier defected across the heavily militarised border between North and South Korea about 8:04am local time  (2304 GMT Wednesday) and no shots were fired, the official said.

Another North Korean soldier suffered critical gunshot wounds during a defection dash across the border on November 13.

South Korean guards fired about 20 warning shots at North Korean troops searching for a defector, who fled across the heavily militarised border between the two countries on Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.