S.Korea troops 'shoot dead a man swimming to North'

A man has been shot dead by South Korean troops as he tried swimming across a border river to the North, according to reports.

Soldiers opened fire after the man jumped into the Imjin river and ignored several warnings to stop.

Thousands of North Koreans defect to South Korea, although it is rare for people to make the journey in the other direction.

AFP reports that the man, who has not yet been identified, was spotted by guards near the western border in Paju, north of Seoul, at around 14:23 local time (05:53GMT).

Warning shots were fired as the man was told to return to the South, but he ignored these and was shot dead.