A North Korean soldier, identified as a staff sergeant, successfully defected to South Korea on Tuesday after crossing the heavily fortified eastern border. The defection occurred in Goseong County, where South Korean military personnel guided the soldier, who was in uniform, during the final leg of his journey. This marks the first defection by an active-duty soldier in five years and reflects a rising trend in defections, particularly from North Korea's elite classes, amid increasing internal discontent under Kim Jong Un's regime. The South Korean military is currently investigating the soldier's motives for defecting, with no unusual movements detected from the North Korean military following the incident. Defections have decreased significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic due to strict border measures, but the numbers have begun to rise again in recent months. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the two Koreas, exacerbated by North Korea's recent military actions and propaganda efforts.