North Korean soldier shot by his own troops while defecting to South

A North Korean soldier was shot by his former comrades, while defecting to South Korea on Monday, across the heavily armed border dividing the countries, said South Koran officials.

The soldier was shot but succeeded in reaching the South, its military said in a statement.

The soldier defected through Panmunjom, a village which is very near to the border between the two countries.

Alerted by gunshots, South Korean guards found the solider around 44 yards south of the border line. He was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds to his elbow and shoulder, said officials.

His defection occurred amidst a joint naval exercise involving three American aircraft carriers in waters off South Korea’s east coast.

It was the first time in a decade that the United States Navy mobilised three carrier groups, within the same drill in the western Pacific. It represented the show of force that US president Trump said Americans “hope to God we never have to use” against Pyongyang.

The North has remained defiant, calling Trump a “dotard” again on Saturday and insisting it will not give up its nuclear weapons pursuit.

Over 30,000 North Koreans have fled to the South since widespread famine and poverty struck the nation in the late 1990s. Nearly all of which have travelled through China.

A handful of civilians and soldiers defected by crossing the demilitarised zone, which is guarded by fences, sentry posts and minefields, as well as barbed wire.

In 2015, after walking across the border, a North Korean soldier told South Korean investigators that he was fleeing widespread beatings and other abuse within his military barracks.

The DMZ is one of the world’s most heavily armed borders, with guards on either side alert against possible defectors or intruders.

On Monday, the South Korean military said it had detained an American citizen, who had been approaching the inter-Korean border.

South Korean defense, police and intelligence spokesmen all confirmed the detention of an American, but none would provide details on the record.

The United States Embassy in Seoul said it was aware of the report but could not provide further details.