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North Korea defector wakes after being shot crossing the DMZ | North Korea defector wakes after being shot crossing the DMZ |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A North Korean soldier who was shot at least five times while defecting to the South has regained consciousness. | A North Korean soldier who was shot at least five times while defecting to the South has regained consciousness. |
The soldier asked to watch television and is being shown South Korean films, Yonhap news agency reports. | The soldier asked to watch television and is being shown South Korean films, Yonhap news agency reports. |
"We believe the most life-threatening moment has now passed," a government official told the agency. | "We believe the most life-threatening moment has now passed," a government official told the agency. |
The soldier made his escape over the demilitarised border last week and was shot at more than 40 times before reaching safety, the South says. | The soldier made his escape over the demilitarised border last week and was shot at more than 40 times before reaching safety, the South says. |
Medical staff say that he is traumatised from his ordeal. | Medical staff say that he is traumatised from his ordeal. |
"To provide psychological stability a South Korean flag has been placed hanging on the hospital room wall," the government official told Yonhap. | "To provide psychological stability a South Korean flag has been placed hanging on the hospital room wall," the government official told Yonhap. |
The identity of the soldier, who had been in a critical condition, has not yet been announced. | The identity of the soldier, who had been in a critical condition, has not yet been announced. |
He crossed to the South Korean side of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the village of Panmunjom on 13 November. | He crossed to the South Korean side of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the village of Panmunjom on 13 November. |
He had to finish his journey on foot when a wheel on his vehicle came loose - but he made it across and was found under a pile of leaves, the South said. | He had to finish his journey on foot when a wheel on his vehicle came loose - but he made it across and was found under a pile of leaves, the South said. |
On Friday, it emerged he had an infestation of worms in his body, contaminating his wounds and making his situation worse. His condition was said to give a rare insight into life in North Korea. | |
About 1,000 people from the North flee to the South each year - but very few defect via the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which is one of the world's most heavily guarded strips of land. | About 1,000 people from the North flee to the South each year - but very few defect via the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which is one of the world's most heavily guarded strips of land. |
It is even more unusual for North Koreans to cross at the JSA, which is a tourist attraction, and the only portion of the DMZ where both forces stand face-to-face. | It is even more unusual for North Koreans to cross at the JSA, which is a tourist attraction, and the only portion of the DMZ where both forces stand face-to-face. |
North and South Korea are technically still at war, since the conflict between them ended in 1953 with a truce and not a formal peace treaty. | North and South Korea are technically still at war, since the conflict between them ended in 1953 with a truce and not a formal peace treaty. |
Seoul says more than 30,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the end of the Korean War in 1953. | Seoul says more than 30,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the end of the Korean War in 1953. |
The majority of the defectors flee via China, which has the longest border with North Korea and is easier to cross than the heavily protected DMZ. | The majority of the defectors flee via China, which has the longest border with North Korea and is easier to cross than the heavily protected DMZ. |
China though regards the defectors as illegal migrants rather than refugees and often forcibly repatriates them. | China though regards the defectors as illegal migrants rather than refugees and often forcibly repatriates them. |