Defecting North Korean Soldier Critical After Escape in Hail of Bullets

Defecting North Korean Soldier Critical After Escape in Hail of Bullets
A North Korean guard post is seen in this picture taken from an observation post inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea, April 17, 2017. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji
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SEOUL—A North Korean soldier is expected to survive critical wounds he received when his old comrades fired a hail of bullets at him as he made a defection dash to South Korea, the South’s government and military said on Tuesday.

The soldier had on Monday sped towards the border in a “peace village” in the heavily guarded demilitarized zone, in a four-wheel drive vehicle.