Three North Korean soldiers have defected to South Korea across the heavily fortified border since August, in an apparent embarrassment to Pyongyang's new regime. On October 2, a North Korean soldier shot two superiors dead before crossing the heavy-militarized border.

Military defections across the land border between the two KOreas are rare, with the last reported crossing by a North Korean soldeir in 2010, and previous instances in 2008 and 2002. However, worsening food shortage at military barracks in the impovershied North has fanned frustration among its soldiers, and the North's military appears to have serious lax discipline issues these days. North Korean soldiers stationed near the border are reportedly selected from families known to be the most loyal to the communist regime, to try to prevent military defections that may embarrass Pyonyang. Despite all these efforts, the fact that a North Korean soldier in the front line hints the nearing collapse of North Korea. North has fanned frustration among its soldiers from worsening food shortages.