6 October 2012 Last updated at 03:26 ET
Defections across the North-South land border are rare
A North Korean soldier has defected to the South across the two countries' heavily armed border, South Korean officials have said.
The soldier said he shot dead two officers before crossing over just after noon (03:00 GMT) on Saturday.
Correspondents say defections across the land border are rare, with the last soldier fleeing in October 2008.
More than 24,000 North Koreans have gone to the South in the last 60 years, mostly via China and SE Asia.
The two countries are still technically at war after the 1950-53 conflict, which ended in a ceasefire not a peace treaty.
The soldier was quoted as saying that he killed his platoon and company commanders while on guard duty. Officials said he then crossed over in the western section of the tightly guarded border.
The defence ministry official said he was in protective custody and was still being interrogated.
There has been no confirmation of the North Korean casualties and no unusual activity observed on the North Korean side of the border.
A North Korean soldier has defected to the South across the two countries' heavily armed border, South Korean officials have said.
The soldier said he shot dead two officers before crossing over just after noon (03:00 GMT) on Saturday.
Correspondents say defections across the land border are rare, with the last soldier fleeing in October 2008.
More than 24,000 North Koreans have gone to the South in the last 60 years, mostly via China and SE Asia.
The two countries are still technically at war after the 1950-53 conflict, which ended in a ceasefire not a peace treaty.
The soldier was quoted as saying that he killed his platoon and company commanders while on guard duty. Officials said he then crossed over in the western section of the tightly guarded border.
The defence ministry official said he was in protective custody and was still being interrogated.
There has been no confirmation of the North Korean casualties and no unusual activity observed on the North Korean side of the border.