DMZ

The man was touring the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula when he crossed into North Korea without authorization, according to the United Nations Command.

The unnamed man defected to the South on Nov. 3, avoiding capture for 14 hours. He is seeking asylum in South Korea.

The heavily fortified no man's land separating North and South Korea, largely untouched by humans, has become an ecological niche for the region's flora and fauna, including endangered species.