In a phone call with TV Chosun on July 18, a military official reported, "Today, an incident occurred at the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom where a foreigner defected to North Korea."

According to the Korean military, the UN Command is currently conducting a general tour of Panmunjeom. It is understood that on that day, a US soldier defected to North Korea and has not yet returned to the South.

Multiple sources, including the United Nations Command (UNC), stated that an American soldier on a visit to the Joint Security Area (JSA) breached the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) without authorization at approximately 3:27 PM on the same day and crossed into North Korea.

The UNC clarified, "We are currently confirming that North Korea has apprehended the American individual," and added, "we are working in collaboration with the North Korean military to address this incident."

It has been confirmed that the individual in question was a soldier serving in the United States Army. A CBS report stated that the American soldier was being disciplined and escaped guards at the airport. He then joined a tour group to the DMZ and crossed into North Korea.

Korean netizens were utterly shocked by the news that an American soldier willfully crossed into North Korea and gathered in an online community to share their reaction.

They commented, "What????? Is he crazy? And he's an American solder," "Is he dumb?" "Over there is hell," "He must be crazy for sure," "He's going to die," "I don't think he unknowingly crossed cause he ran across the border," "Why did he cross over there?" "Does he want to write a book about his extreme choice to cross to the North?" "What in the world?" "I think one of the dumbest people crossed over," "Does he think he can return?" "I really seriously think he was really stupid. That's why he crossed over. He doesn't know how serious this is or something," and "What is going on with him...?"