{"id":51383,"date":"2017-11-14T19:08:05","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T19:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/11\/14\/seoul-north-koreans-fired-40-shots-at-defector-hit-him-with-5\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:47:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:47:31","slug":"seoul-north-koreans-fired-40-shots-at-defector-hit-him-with-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/11\/14\/seoul-north-koreans-fired-40-shots-at-defector-hit-him-with-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Seoul: North Koreans fired 40 shots at defector, hit him with 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEOUL, South Korea \u2014 Four North Korean soldiers fired about 40 rounds at a comrade fleeing into South Korea and hit him five times in the first shooting at the jointly controlled area of the heavily fortified border in more than 30 years, the South\u2019s military said Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Korean soldiers did not fire their weapons, but Monday\u2019s incident occurred at a time of high animosity over North Korea\u2019s nuclear program. The North has expressed intense anger over past high-profile defections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldier is being treated at a South Korean hospital after a five-hour operation for the gunshot wounds he suffered during his escape across the Joint Security Area. His personal details and motive for defection are unknown and his exact medical condition is unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Korea\u2019s military said he suffered injuries in his internal organs but wasn\u2019t in a life-threatening condition. But the Ajou University Medical Center near Seoul said the soldier was relying on a breathing machine after the surgery removed the bullets. Lee Guk-jong, a doctor who leads Ajou\u2019s medical team for the soldier, described his patient\u2019s condition as \u201cvery dangerous\u201d and said the next 10 days might determine whether he recovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\t