A South Korean official has been shot dead and burned by North Korean troops, the South’s defence ministry said, condemning the “brutal act”.

Seoul said the man had disappeared from a patrol boat near the border and was later found in the North’s waters.

North Korean soldiers shot him, then poured oil over his body and set it alight, the ministry said.

It had come to this conclusion based on its analysis of “diverse intelligence”.

Pyongyang has not commented.

North Korea has tightened its borders and is thought to have a “shoot-to-kill” policy in place to prevent the coronavirus from entering the country.