A North Korean soldiers daring dash to freedom may have been unplanned, according to lawmakers and South Korean intelligence officials.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service is reportedly investigating unconfirmed allegations that Oh Chong Song, the North Korean soldier who made international headlines last year when he defected under fire at the DMZ, might have crossed into South Korea to escape punishment after he was involved in a traffic accident while under the influence of alcohol, the Korea Times reported Thursday, citing lawmakers and intelligence officials.
Oh’s decision to defect to the South may have been one made in a state of drunken panic, rather than a carefully calculated choice to pursue freedom at all costs, reports from a meeting on the investigation into the defector’s motives suggested.
Earlier this week, rumors circulated that the young soldier may have committed a deadly crime before he defected. “I committed a crime in North Korea that caused a death,” Oh reportedly told investigators, according to the South Korean news outlet Donga Ilbo. While murder was considered, observers leaned more towards some sort of accident or mishap.
The spy agency reportedly suspects that a drunken Oh was showing his friend around the Panmunjeom truce village when he crashed his car, according to KBS. It’s unclear what happened to the friend or how events unfolded after that.
The soldier crashed his vehicle during his defection and was forced to continue on foot, exposing himself to the bullets fired from the guns of his former comrades.
ALSO WATCH: North Korean Defector Bolts At DMZ
Oh, the 24-year-old son of a ranking military officer, was shot five times when he made his escape. He spent weeks in intensive care, with doctors not only treating bullet wounds but also addressing harmful prior conditions, such as a serious roundworm infection in the young man’s gut.
Medical professionals revealed early on that Oh appeared to be suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Investigators have noted that his testimony has a tendency to vary with his mood, leading some to question the validity of some of his statements.
Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free
The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.