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| Second North Korean soldier in weeks defects to South, say reports | Second North Korean soldier in weeks defects to South, say reports |
| (21 days later) | |
| Weeks after a North Korean soldier was seriously wounded during his successful escape to South Korea, another member of the regime’s military has crossed the countries’ heavily armed border, according to media reports. | Weeks after a North Korean soldier was seriously wounded during his successful escape to South Korea, another member of the regime’s military has crossed the countries’ heavily armed border, according to media reports. |
| The second soldier, who has not been named, appeared at a guard post along the western section of the 2.5-mile-wide demilitarised zone [DMZ], the heavily armed border that divides the Korean peninsula – on Thursday morning, according to Yonhap news agency. | The second soldier, who has not been named, appeared at a guard post along the western section of the 2.5-mile-wide demilitarised zone [DMZ], the heavily armed border that divides the Korean peninsula – on Thursday morning, according to Yonhap news agency. |
| No gunfire was heard during the latest defection by a member of the North’s 1.2-million strong army, but Yonhap said South Korean forces had fired around 20 warning shots at North Korean border guards as they searched for the missing soldier. | No gunfire was heard during the latest defection by a member of the North’s 1.2-million strong army, but Yonhap said South Korean forces had fired around 20 warning shots at North Korean border guards as they searched for the missing soldier. |
| It is possible that the defector’s fellow soldiers were initially unaware of his bid for freedom as the area was blanketed in thick fog at the time, media reports said. | It is possible that the defector’s fellow soldiers were initially unaware of his bid for freedom as the area was blanketed in thick fog at the time, media reports said. |
| The serviceman, who is said to be of a low rank, is being questioned by South Korean military authorities. | The serviceman, who is said to be of a low rank, is being questioned by South Korean military authorities. |
| The latest defection will cause embarrassment in North Korea, coming weeks after another soldier, Oh Chong-song, survived a hail of bullets fired by his compatriots during his daring flight across the DMZ. | The latest defection will cause embarrassment in North Korea, coming weeks after another soldier, Oh Chong-song, survived a hail of bullets fired by his compatriots during his daring flight across the DMZ. |
| Security camera footage showed the soldier drive his jeep at high speed towards the lightly armed joint security area, a section of the DMZ where guards from either side stand just metres away from each other. | Security camera footage showed the soldier drive his jeep at high speed towards the lightly armed joint security area, a section of the DMZ where guards from either side stand just metres away from each other. |
| He abandoned his vehicle after it got stuck in a ditch and dashed across the narrow demarcation line into the South, as his compatriots opened fire from behind. | He abandoned his vehicle after it got stuck in a ditch and dashed across the narrow demarcation line into the South, as his compatriots opened fire from behind. |
| The 24-year-old, who was shot five times, collapsed in a pile of leaves near a wall, before being dragged to safety by South Korean forces. | The 24-year-old, who was shot five times, collapsed in a pile of leaves near a wall, before being dragged to safety by South Korean forces. |
| He underwent several operations to treat his wounds and to remove parasitic worms that doctors believe were caused by poor nutrition among average North Korean soldiers. | He underwent several operations to treat his wounds and to remove parasitic worms that doctors believe were caused by poor nutrition among average North Korean soldiers. |
| Last weekend Oh, whose condition has stabilised, was transferred to a military hospital near Seoul to continue his recovery. “South Korea’s intelligence services will soon schedule the security questioning process depending on his condition,” an intelligence official told Reuters. | Last weekend Oh, whose condition has stabilised, was transferred to a military hospital near Seoul to continue his recovery. “South Korea’s intelligence services will soon schedule the security questioning process depending on his condition,” an intelligence official told Reuters. |
| The South has turned Oh’s defection into a propaganda weapon, with loudspeakers set up along the border broadcasting details of his escape within earshot of North Korean troops. | The South has turned Oh’s defection into a propaganda weapon, with loudspeakers set up along the border broadcasting details of his escape within earshot of North Korean troops. |
| North Korean defectors undergo security questioning by South Korea’s intelligence agency once they arrive before being sent to a resettlement centre for a three-month education on life in the South. After they are released, central and local governments provide 7 million won ($6,450) in cash over a year, as well as support with housing, education and job training. | North Korean defectors undergo security questioning by South Korea’s intelligence agency once they arrive before being sent to a resettlement centre for a three-month education on life in the South. After they are released, central and local governments provide 7 million won ($6,450) in cash over a year, as well as support with housing, education and job training. |
| The Korea Herald said Oh had been given a “lifetime’s” supply of Choco Pies, a popular South Korean snack after their manufacturer, Orion, heard that he was a fan of the confectionery – a combination of cake and marshmallow covered in chocolate. | The Korea Herald said Oh had been given a “lifetime’s” supply of Choco Pies, a popular South Korean snack after their manufacturer, Orion, heard that he was a fan of the confectionery – a combination of cake and marshmallow covered in chocolate. |
| The snacks are a rare treat in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, where they found their way onto the black market via people employed at Kaesong, a jointly run industrial complex that South Korea closed early last year in protest at the regime’s missile tests. | The snacks are a rare treat in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, where they found their way onto the black market via people employed at Kaesong, a jointly run industrial complex that South Korea closed early last year in protest at the regime’s missile tests. |
| South Korean military officials said 15 North Koreans, including four soldiers, have fled the country this year, compared with one soldier and four civilians in 2016. | South Korean military officials said 15 North Koreans, including four soldiers, have fled the country this year, compared with one soldier and four civilians in 2016. |
| The vast majority of the estimated 30,000 people who have defected from the North since the end of the Korean war in 1953 crossed into China before moving on to a third country to gain passage to South Korea. | The vast majority of the estimated 30,000 people who have defected from the North since the end of the Korean war in 1953 crossed into China before moving on to a third country to gain passage to South Korea. |