{"id":52262,"date":"2017-11-14T06:18:29","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T06:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=52262"},"modified":"2017-11-14T06:18:29","modified_gmt":"2017-11-14T06:18:29","slug":"defecting-north-korean-soldier-in-critical-condition-u-n-investigating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/defecting-north-korean-soldier-in-critical-condition-u-n-investigating.html","title":{"rendered":"Defecting North Korean soldier in critical condition, U.N. investigating"},"content":{"rendered":"

Defecting North Korean soldier in critical condition, U.N. investigating<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Defecting North Korean soldier in critical condition, U.N. investigating:- A North Korean soldier shot while defecting to the South has undergone several surgical procedures and is in a critical condition, South Korea\u2019s government and military said on Tuesday, with doctors expecting to save him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUntil this morning, we heard he had no consciousness and was unable to breathe on his own but his life can be saved,\u201d said Suh Wook, chief director of operations at South Korea\u2019s Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was briefing lawmakers regarding Monday\u2019s event.<\/span><\/p>\n

Five bullets had been extracted from the soldier\u2019s body so far, leaving an estimated two inside, Suh added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lee Cook-jong, the surgeon in charge of the soldier\u2019s treatment, told reporters earlier on Tuesday his condition was critical due to intestinal damage caused by the bullets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The soldier had sped towards the border in a vehicle when a wheel came loose, forcing him to escape on foot under fire from four North Korean soldiers who shot around 40 rounds at him, Suh said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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North Korea\u2019s military took action when the defector was spotted in the four wheel drive heading towards the border alone, Roh Jae-cheon, a spokesman for the South\u2019s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a media briefing on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

The soldier took cover behind a South Korean structure within the Joint Security Area (JSA) inside the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas and was later rescued by South Korean and U.S. soldiers at the border, the United Nations Command (UNC) said in a separate statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

It said the soldier had been shot by several North Korean soldiers.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was found unarmed and taken to surgery while still in his uniform, which indicated he held a lower rank, Suh said. South Korean officials have yet to identify exactly where the soldier came from and what his intentions were.<\/span><\/p>\n

The military armistice commission of the United Nations said in the same UNC statement it had informed the North Korean military that the soldier, who was found about 50 meters (150 feet) south of the Military Demarcation Line, was undergoing surgery for his gunshot wounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suh also said the South had later informed the North on Monday of the soldier and his ongoing treatment via loudspeakers installed at the border.<\/span><\/p>\n

The United Nations Command said an investigation into Monday\u2019s event was ongoing.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was the first time since 2007 a North Korean soldier had defected across the JSA. South Korean Defence Minister Song Young-moo, who was also at parliament said it was the first time North Korean soldiers had fired towards the South\u2019s side of the JSA, prompting complaints from some lawmakers the South\u2019s military should have also fired shots towards the North.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moon Sang-gyun, the South\u2019s defense ministry spokesman said military operations at the JSA are usually carried out under the order of the United Nations Command, which is in turn under order from the U.S. military.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roh said no South Korean or U.S. soldiers were wounded during the incident and the defense ministry official said North Korea\u2019s military had not shown any unusual movements on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-northkorea-southkorea-defection\/defecting-north-korean-soldier-in-critical-condition-u-n-investigating-idUSKBN1DE04N<\/span><\/p>\n

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