A North Korean soldier, reportedly a staff sergeant, defected to South Korea early Tuesday by crossing the heavily fortified border in the eastern region of the Korean peninsula, according to Yonhap news agency.

The soldier entered Goseong county, located on the east coast near the North Korean border, where he was detained by South Korean guards who had been tracking his movements.

A South Korean defense ministry official confirmed that a person, believed to be North Korean, was taken into custody on the eastern front, and authorities are currently investigating the reasons behind the defection.

The official did not provide further details. Earlier this month, another North Korean resident defected to South Korea via the west coast. Defections across the border are considered both dangerous and relatively rare, as most North Korean escapees typically flee through China or other third countries.