Another North Korean man crosses into South Korea

ANKARA

Another North Korean man crossed into South Korea, the third such defection in the last two months, local media reported on Friday.

South Korea's military monitored his activities and later assisted him in arriving in South Korea when his small boat crossed the Northern Limit Line near South Korea's border island of Baengnyeong in the Yellow Sea on Sept. 17, Seoul-based Yonhap News agency reported.

Local officials did not give more details or the identity of the defector.

In August, two North Koreans crossed into South Korea by land and water.

The latest revelation came just two days after North Korea announced they would permanently close off roads and railway lines with its southern neighbor.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been on the rise in recent months after joint military exercises by South Korea and the US, as well as missile launches by North Korea.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid