Oh Chong-song

Oh Chong-song (or Oh Chung-sung)[2] is a North Korean defector. Oh is one of a few defectors who have defected to South Korea via the Joint Security Area (JSA).[3][4] 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 officers.[5] South Korean investigators concluded Oh "impulsively" defected.[6]

This is a Korean name; the family name is Oh.
Oh Chong-song
오청성
Born1992/1993 (age 26–27)[1]
Near Kaesong, Changpung County, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea
NationalityNorth Korean (formerly)
South Korean
Known forDefection

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 MDL under close-range gunfire, collapsing on the South Korean side under cover of a low wall, meters away from the MDL.[7] After being rescued by South Korean soldiers, Oh was transported in a helicopter from the U.S. Eighth Army's 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, to the Ajou University Hospital in Suwon. Having lost half of his blood from five gunshot wounds received from North Korean soldiers during his escape, his condition required an immediate operation upon arrival at the hospital to save his life.[1]

North Korean soldiers violated the Korean Armistice Agreement during the incident by firing shots across the MDL into South Korea.[8] Following these events, North Korean guards in the Joint Security Area were replaced.[9] Additional measures were taken to prevent similar defections. A trench was dug at the site where Oh's vehicle had broken down[10] and a new gate was installed along the road to Panmunjom.[11]

Health

While Oh was in surgery for his gunshot wounds, doctors found large parasitic worms in his digestive tract, one of which was 27 cm long. The parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides worms.[12][13] Oh was treated by surgeon John Cook-Jong Lee at the Ajou University Hospital's intensive care.[14] Oh was later transferred to a military hospital.[15] The surgery and treatment of Oh cost the South Korean government 65 million won ($60,800).[16] South Korea's Channel A reported that an unnamed South Korean intelligence agent claimed that one of the four North Korean soldiers who defected in 2017 had anthrax antibodies in his system;[17] however, the South Korean defense ministry did not confirm the report, and stated that none of the four soldiers are believed to have worked in North Korea's biochemical warfare unit.[18] 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.[19]

Alleged confession

According to an unnamed source quoted by the South Korean newspaper Donga Ilbo, Oh allegedly confessed to South Korean investigators that he had committed a crime in North Korea, which "caused a death" or "led to the killing of people", depending on the source.[2][20]

In the media

The Washington Free Beacon called Oh the 2017 man of the year.[21] CNN has made a special documentary on the defection of Oh.[22] NBC did a short update interview with Oh.[23]

Family

According to Sankei Shimbun, Japanese officials have confirmed that Oh is the son of a North Korean major general.[24]

See also

References
  1. Joshua Berlinger. "Dramatic video shows North Korean soldier's escape across border". CNN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  2. "The North Korean soldier who risked his life to defect to the South reportedly admitted to killing someone". Newsweek. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  3. 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.
  4. "Escape From North Korea: Dramatic New Footage". November 23, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.WSJ.com.
  5. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/12/28/Report-North-Korea-soldier-has-no-recollection-of-daring-escape/6561514481083/
  6. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/04/103_247950.html
  7. "North Korean defector: What we've learned from dramatic footage". BBC News. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  8. "Watch a surgeon pull a 10-inch parasite from North Korean defector's body". Newsweek. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  9. "North Korea reportedly replaces guards where defector escaped". NYPost.com. November 24, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  10. "North Korea digs trench at DMZ border". November 24, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.BBC.com.
  11. https://www.nknews.org/2018/01/n-korea-installs-new-gate-further-security-precautions-along-road-to-panmunjom/
  12. Reuters (November 17, 2017). "North Korean defector had 27cm parasitic worm in his stomach". Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.TheGuardian.com.
  13. http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2120629/what-horrific-parasites-infesting-defectors-stomach-tell-us
  14. "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.
  15. "Wounded North Korean defector transferred to South Korean military hos". December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via Reuters.
  16. http://www.newsweek.com/north-korean-defector-survived-gunshot-wounds-medical-bill-paid-761133 By Sofia Lotto Persio, 12/28/17 Newsweek
  17. "Anthrax antibodies in defector raises fears North Korea is developing chemical weapons". USA TODAY. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  18. "How serious is the North Korean anthrax threat?". CNN. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  19. http://www.ibtimes.com/north-korean-defector-doesnt-remember-escaping-across-border-report-2634281
  20. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180123000857
  21. "2017 Man of the Year: North Korean Defector Shot Crossing the DMZ". Washington Free Beacon. December 27, 2017.
  22. "CNN Exclusive: Escape from North Korea Special Documentary". CNN. January 11, 2018.
  23. Kim, Stella; Smith, Alexander (April 15, 2019). "North Korean defector Oh Chong Song doesn't blame comrades who shot him". NBC News.
  24. "North Korea defector: next generation have no loyalty to Kim Jong-un – report". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
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