South Korean soldier captured
June 23, 2014
The South Korean military apprehended a runaway soldier on Monday, who had fled two days earlier after shooting dead five troops in his unit. The country's defense ministry confirmed his capture, saying that the 22-year-old sergeant had tried to take his own life.
"At around 14:55 (0555 UTC), Sergeant Lim harmed himself in his side with a K-2 rifle and was sent to the hospital," a Defense Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
On Saturday, the sergeant fled his post, located some 220 kilometers (137 miles) northeast of Seoul. There he had opened fire on his unit, killing five people and injuring seven more.
Following his escape, the South Korean military dispatched thousands of troops in pursuit of the 22-year-old, who was considered extremely dangerous. They exchanged fire overnight with the runaway soldier in a section of dense forest.
'Sincere apology'
Attempts by his parents and the military to convince him to surrender were unsuccessful.
Most of the victims in Saturday's shooting were conscripts aged 19 to 23. The defense ministry issued a "sincere apology" over the incident.
"We pray for the souls of the victims and express our deepest regret for the victims, the injured and their families," it said.
Bullying and cruelty in the barracks have long tarnished the armed forces in South Korea and been blamed for suicides and similar shooting incidents.
kms/slk (AP, AFP, Reuters)