A NORTH Korean infiltrator signalled he was ready to surrender after a fierce gunbattle with southern troops yesterday, possibly ending a drama that began when about 20 agents landed by submarine on Wednesday.
Korean television said the man had waved white clothing to indicate he wanted to give himself up.
South Korean security forces earlier killed seven North Koreans yesterday. About 20 men were thought to have come ashore on a beach in South Korea from a submarine on Wednesday.
Altogether 18 have now been shot dead - 11 in an apparent mass suicide - and one was captured after a ruthless manhunt by thousands of troops and police.
The search through mountainous terrain continued for some time because of uncertainty about the number of agents dropped near the east coast city of Kangnung. South Korean forces took no chances with the heavily armed North Koreans as they reportedly fled towards the fortified border.
Three were shot as they crouched by a stream to drink water, military sources in Kangnung said.
On Wednesday, the bodies of 11 North Koreans were found on a mountain top. All had been shot through the head in an apparent mass suicide.
President Kim Young sam of South Korea denounced, this act of "military provocation".
"This is not a simple spy case. I regard it as a kind of military provocation," Mr Kim said.
North Korea refused to accept a protest by the US led UN Command in South Korea, a command statement said.
The UN command attempted to hand the message to the North through the border crossing village of Panmunjom, but a Northern military duty officer would not take it, the statement said.
The letter, signed by Gen Cha Ki Moon of South Korea, said: "I strongly demand that your side immediately take the necessary steps to prevent recurrence of these serious Armistice Agreement violations. If you fail to do so, the responsibility for the unfortunate consequences will be yours.
Security was strengthened around Seoul, with checkpoints on bridges leading into the capital and armed police posted conspicuously in busy shopping districts.