Oh Chong-song

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In this Korean name, the family name is Oh.
Oh Chong-song
Born1992 or 1993 (age 30–31)[1]
Near Kaesong, Changpung County, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea
NationalityNorth Korean (formerly)
South Korean
OccupationSoldier
Known forEscape from North Korea
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
오청성
Hancha
吳青成
Revised RomanizationO Cheongseong
McCune–ReischauerO Ch'ŏngsŏng

Oh Chong-song (Korean: 오청성; born 1992 or 1993), also spelled Oh Chung-sung,[2] is a North Korean defector. Oh is one of several defectors who have defected to South Korea via the Joint Security Area (JSA).[3][4] Prior to his defection, Oh was an industrial engineer.[5] South Korean investigators concluded Oh "impulsively" defected.[6]

According to Sankei Shimbun, Japanese officials have confirmed that Oh is the son of a North Korean major general.[7]

Defection[edit]

Oh defected from North Korea on 13 November 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, metres away from the MDL.[8] 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 immediate surgery upon arrival at the hospital to save his life.[1]

Reaction[edit]

North Korean soldiers violated the Korean Armistice Agreement during the incident by firing shots across the MDL into South Korea.[9] Following these events, North Korean guards in the Joint Security Area were replaced.[10][11] Additional measures were taken to prevent similar defections. A trench was dug at the site where Oh's vehicle had broken down[12][13] and a new gate was installed along the road to Panmunjom.[14]

Health[edit]

While Oh was in surgery for his gunshot wounds, doctors found large parasitic worms in his digestive tract, one of which was 27 centimetres (11 in) long. The parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides worms.[15][16] Oh was treated by surgeon Lee Guk-jong at the Ajou University Hospital's intensive care.[17] Oh was later transferred to a military hospital.[18] The surgery and treatment of Oh cost the South Korean government 65 million won ($60,800).[19] 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;[20] 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.[21] 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.[22]

Alleged confession[edit]

According to an unnamed source quoted by the South Korean newspaper The Dong-a 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][23]

In the media[edit]

CNN has made a special documentary on the defection of Oh.[24] In 2019, NBC did a short update interview with Oh.[25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Joshua Berlinger (November 22, 2017). "Dramatic video shows North Korean soldier's escape across border". CNN.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The North Korean soldier who risked his life to defect to the South reportedly admitted to killing someone". Newsweek. January 23, 2018. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Eltagouri, Marwa (November 24, 2017). "What we've learned about the North Korean soldier whose daring escape was caught on video". Archived from the original on December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
  4. ^ "Escape From North Korea: Dramatic New Footage". Wall Street Journal. November 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.WSJ.com.
  5. ^ "Report: North Korea soldier has no recollection of daring escape". UPI. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Panmunjeom: Standing witness to decades of border history". koreatimes. April 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "North Korea defector: next generation have no loyalty to Kim Jong-un – report". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. November 19, 2018. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  8. ^ "North Korean defector: What we've learned from dramatic footage". BBC News. November 22, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "Watch a surgeon pull a 10-inch parasite from North Korean defector's body". Newsweek. December 5, 2017. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  10. ^ Pearson, James; Kim, Christine (November 24, 2017). "North Korea replaces soldiers, South Korea awards medals after defector's border dash". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  11. ^ Tong-Hyung, Kim (November 24, 2017). "Report: N. Korea replaces border guards following defection". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "North Korea digs trench at DMZ border". BBC News. November 24, 2017. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  13. ^ Sanchez, Ray (November 26, 2017). "North Korea replaces soldiers and digs trench at defection site". CNN News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Oh, Seungmock (January 22, 2018). "N. Korea installs new gate, further security precautions along road to Panmunjom". NK News. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "North Korean defector had 27cm parasitic worm in his stomach". The Guardian. Reuters. November 17, 2017. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017 – via www.TheGuardian.com.
  16. ^ "Horrific infestation in defector's stomach reveals truth about North Korea". South China Morning Post. November 20, 2017. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  17. ^ "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. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  18. ^ "Wounded North Korean defector transferred to South Korean military hos". Reuters. December 16, 2017. Archived from the original on December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  19. ^ Lotto Persio, Sofia (December 28, 2017). "North Korean Defector With Gunshot Wounds Will Have $60,000 Medical Bill Paid for by South Korea". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 29, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  20. ^ "Anthrax antibodies in defector raises fears North Korea is developing chemical weapons". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  21. ^ "How serious is the North Korean anthrax threat?". CNN. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  22. ^ Difazio, Joe (December 28, 2017). "North Korean Defector Doesn't Remember Escaping Across Border: Report". International Business Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  23. ^ "NK military defector allegedly confessed to being involved in murder case back home". January 23, 2018. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  24. ^ "CNN Exclusive: Escape from North Korea Special Documentary". CNN. January 11, 2018. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  25. ^ Kim, Stella; Smith, Alexander (April 15, 2019). "North Korean defector Oh Chong Song doesn't blame comrades who shot him". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
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