Oh Chong-song
Oh Chong-song | |
---|---|
오청성 | |
Born | 1992 or 1993 (age 30–31)[1] Near Kaesong, Changpung County, North Hwanghae Province North Korea |
Nationality | North Korean (formerly) South Korean |
Known for | Defection |
Oh Chong-song is a North Korean defector. Oh is one of a few defectors who have defected to South Korea via the Joint Security Area (JSA).[2][3] Prior to his defection, Oh was a driver working for the general staff of the North Korean military at Panmunjom and in particular for senior North Korean officer.[4]
Oh defected from North Korea on November 13, 2017. During his escape, he drove a car directly up to the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) dividing North and South Korea and crashed, apparently losing a wheel. He then exited the car and sprinted across the border under close-range gunfire, collapsing on the South Korean side under cover of a low wall, meters away from the border.[5] After being rescued by South Korean soldiers, Oh was transported in a US Air Force helicopter to a South Korean hospital. Oh arrived at hospital having lost half of his blood. He was in a South Korean hospital where was recovering from five gunshot wounds obtained from North Korean soldiers during his escape.[1] North Korean soldiers violated the Korean Armistice Agreement during the incident by firing shots across the border into South Korea.[6] Following these events, all North Korean soldiers were removed from the Joint Security Area.[7] Additional measures were taken to prevent similar defections by North Korean Soldiers. A trench was dug at the site where Oh's vehicle had broken down.[8]A new gate was installed along the road to Panmunjom.[9]
Health
Oh is also known for the exceptionally large parasitic worm found in his stomach. Multiple flesh-colored Ascaris lumbricoides worms were found in Oh, one of which was 27 cm long.[10][11] Oh was treated by surgeon John Cook-Jong Lee at the Ajou University Hospital's intensive care.[12] Oh was later transferred to a military hospital.[13]The surgery and treatment of Oh costs the South Korean government 65 million won ($60,800).[14] South Korea's Channel A reported that an unnamed South Korea intelligence agent claimed that one of the four North Korean soldiers who defected in 2017 had anthrax antibodies in his system;[15] however, the South Korean defense ministry did not confirm the report, and stating that none of the four soldiers are believed to have worked in North Korea's biochemical warfare unit.[16] A South Korean intelligence official familiar with Oh's case reported to MBN that Oh may be showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Oh could not recall his defection during interrogation.[17]
Alleged confession
Oh allegedly confessed to South Korean investigators that he had “committed a crime in North Korea that led to the killing of people.”[18]
In the media
The Washington Free Beacon called Oh Chong-song 2017 man of the year.[19] CNN has a special documentary on the defection of Oh Chong-song.[20]
Family
Oh is believed to be the son of a ranking North Korean military official.[21][22]
See also
- Conrad Schumann, East German soldier who defected to West Germany in 1961
- Korean People's Army
- List of North Korean defectors in South Korea
- Schießbefehl, East German rules of engagement for defectors attempting to flee
References
- ^ a b CNN, Joshua Berlinger,. "Dramatic video shows North Korean soldier's escape across border". CNN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Eltagouri, Marwa (November 24, 2017). "What we've learned about the North Korean soldier whose daring escape was caught on video". Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
- ^ "Escape From North Korea: Dramatic New Footage". November 23, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.WSJ.com.
- ^ https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/12/28/Report-North-Korea-soldier-has-no-recollection-of-daring-escape/6561514481083/
- ^ "North Korean defector: What we've learned from dramatic footage". BBC News. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ "Watch a surgeon pull a 10-inch parasite from North Korean defector's body". Newsweek. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ "North Korea reportedly replaces guards where defector escaped". NYPost.com. November 24, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "North Korea digs trench at DMZ border". November 24, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.BBC.com.
- ^ https://www.nknews.org/2018/01/n-korea-installs-new-gate-further-security-precautions-along-road-to-panmunjom/
- ^ Reuters (November 17, 2017). "North Korean defector had 27cm parasitic worm in his stomach". Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.TheGuardian.com.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2120629/what-horrific-parasites-infesting-defectors-stomach-tell-us
- ^ "When he woke up from surgery, the 25-year-old North Korea defector said he wanted to eat a choco pie". Newsweek.com. December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Wounded North Korean defector transferred to South Korean military hos". December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via Reuters.
- ^ http://www.newsweek.com/north-korean-defector-survived-gunshot-wounds-medical-bill-paid-761133 By Sofia Lotto Persio, 12/28/17 Newsweek
- ^ "Anthrax antibodies in defector raises fears North Korea is developing chemical weapons". USA TODAY. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "How serious is the North Korean anthrax threat?". CNN. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ http://www.ibtimes.com/north-korean-defector-doesnt-remember-escaping-across-border-report-2634281
- ^ http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180123000857
- ^ http://freebeacon.com/men-of-the-year/2017-man-year-north-korean-defector-shot-crossing-dmz/
- ^ http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2018/01/11/cnn-exclusive-escape-from-north-korea-special-documentary/
- ^ Herald, The Korea (November 30, 2017). "N. Korean soldier-defector is son of ranking military official". KoreaHerald.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Anna Fifield, National Post, December 2, 2017