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North Korean Trying To Escape Country Is One Of The Most Daring Attempts Ever

North Korean Trying To Escape Country Is One Of The Most Daring Attempts Ever

Oh Chong Song was shot five times as he crossed one of the world's most dangerous borders

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

This is the moment a North Korean soldier attempted to cross the Korean Demilitarised Zone from north to south. Watch in the clip below:

With the border known as one of the most dangerous in the world, Oh Chong Song made a dash for freedom and was shot five times in the process - although he survived.

The North Korean defector was peppered with bullets back in November 2017 as he tried to flee his homeland and get to South Korea.

The footage was filmed on 13 November 2017, when surveillance cameras captured him smashing through a military checkpoint in a green jeep.

He was heading towards the demilitarised zone (otherwise known as the DMZ).

Had he been caught, he believed he would have been either 'sent to a concentration camp for political prisoners' or 'executed by firing squad'.

NBC

Speaking to NBC 18 months after the escape, Oh Chong Song said he didn't have any hard feelings towards the border guards, explaining: "In their situation I would have fired the gun. It's not a matter of friendship.

"I understand them because if I were in their shoes I would have done the same thing."

Talking about the moment he ran, Oh Chong Song explained: "I was extremely terrified. I watch this video once in a while and every time I see it, I realise the fact that I am alive is a miracle.

"Even I can't believe something like this happened. I can't believe it's me in the video."

He added, pointing towards his body: "I was wearing a padded jacket and the bullet penetrated through here and came out this way.

"Because of that penetration wound, the muscle there was blown apart and I could feel the warmth of the blood flowing underneath me. I still ran."

PA

South Korean soldiers dragged the defector to safety after finding him.

He told NBC: I did think that I was going to die as I was lying there.

"At this point, when they were coming to rescue me, I was unconscious."

Doctors operated on Oh, who had spent eight years in the North Korean military, and also found parasitic worms as long as 11 inches in his bowel. They believed that this was due to poor food standards and hygiene.

At the time it was reported that Oh had been drinking after getting into unspecified trouble with his friends and the decision was a spontaneous one.

Featured Image Credit: NBC

Topics: South Korea, News, North Korea