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North Korean soldier defects after crossing border

Seoul(CNN) A North Korean soldier defected Thursday after crossing the border and entering South Korea, according to a press release from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The South Korean military says the soldier crossed the mid-eastern portion of the Military Demarcation Line -- which is located inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two countries -- at 10 a.m. local time.

It's not clear how or why he defected, but the South Korean military said it will investigate.

The soldier's defection follows that of a senior diplomat who abandoned his post at the country's embassy in the United Kingdom in August.

North Korea: Diplomat who defected to South Korea a 'criminal'

The defection comes amid a particularly tense time in North-South relations.

North Korea has flexed its military might frequently throughout 2016, conducting exercises and military tests at a faster pace than usual.

The zenith was reached earlier this month after North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test ever -- and second this year -- prompting widespread condemnation from most of the international community.

CNN's Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report
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