N Korean soldier shoots officers, defects to South

Let's hope the trickily turns into a flood.

feel sorry for the defector's family left behind in North Korea.

It sounds like he must have been training with the Afghan army.

The afgans involved in green on blue shootings simply have a sick perception of their situation, and get brainwashed into their actions, but No no, this North korean wanted some freedom, and shot some people dead to get it. What's that say about the importance of democracy, though flawed it is, it's certainly a better alternative to totalitarian dictatorship.

What's that say about the importance of democracy, though flawed it is, it's certainly a better alternative to totalitarian dictatorship.

He did murder people to get it though. Isn't that fairly illegal in a democratic country?

Agreed with Tamarama. Who would murder their own kind? It sounds either like a set-up by NK to get a spy into the south, or a very sick and untrustworthy individual has made his way over the border. I feel sorry for his brother officers and their families if he really did murder them.

Who would murder their own kind?

And by "his own kind" you mean the jailers who were keeping him trapped in a totalitarian nightmare? You have no idea what this man's circumstances were, or what necessity drove him to defect across a mine-filled DMZ. I would not be nearly so quick to pass judgement.

Very sad how we on Earth can not accomplish a simple task as getting along together.

He decidded to stop being another brick in the wall.

Triumvere: And by "his own kind" you mean the jailers who were keeping him trapped in a totalitarian nightmare?

No, I think nanda means the two people he killed who quite possibly had their own loved ones who are now quite saddened by these events. Probably just doing their jobs, as instructed by others who were just doing their jobs. Quite sad really.

Perhaps his family has died and he had nothing to keep him from leaving. About his platoon officers perhaps they were cruel and had it coming. Posters here are putting gentle values on a harsh society.

Probably just doing their jobs

Keep in mind that that 'job' includes shooting defectors in the back.

It is quite possible that these officers left behind bereaved family members. Maybe they were nice people. Maybe not. Again, you don't know the circumstances. So don't rush to judgement.

I find it fitting that Triumvere and YuriOtani have both made their own judgements at the same time they condemn me for making mine. Rich! You both only know what the media tell you, just like the rest of us.

I seriously doubt if he could have escaped without killing those two soldiers, he would have done it. Escaping from North Korea is not an easy thing, especially in this scenario.

@MeanRingo

I'm not really sure how to say this any clearer: Neither of us know what happened, so neither of us should be quick to judge.

I wasn't trying to imply that the slain officers were bad people, but rather that they were - as Tuntematon suggests - most likely a bar preventing his escape. Now, this assumption could be false, and the killings gratuitous, but the scenario I have put forward is highly plausible. Now, given we do not know why the soldier felt he needed to risk his life in a highly dangerous defection, don't you think we should reserve judgement?

Mean Ringo, I used the word perhaps as it is not the only possible possibility. We do not know and probably will never learn the truth. The North will spin it one way if they even bother and the South will spin it another. So why are you standing up for the dead officers?

Granted he is not in an ideal position if he wants to defect, but is his freedom worth more than the lives of two men who are equally as trapped by the repressions and mechanics of the state as he?

No. It's not a reasonable thing to do. He has killed two men, presumably with families and relatives, for purely selfish purposes.

Find another way to do it. Slip out in the night, whatever.

It also presents a bit of a dilemma for the South Koreans, doesn't it? He is valuable to them for intel, but he just admitted to murder. How is that viewed in SK?

And I used the word "possibly". My point was, we all make judgements, so stop telling people not to assume, while making your own assumptions. I introduced a possibility. I didn't say no one else should be able to. So make all the implications you care to, without damning those who make implications of their own.

"Military Intelligence" needs to interrogate this person well. The story isn't plausible, but, then again, any story from the military is possible. If it is true, then good luck to this chap.

People need to remember that when S Korea (the US ) and N Korea (China) set up the border may families were separated. There are people on both sides that have stayed near the border just for that reason. Another thing to remember is that freedom is never free and it can not be given. The people in the North have lived without freedom for so long that the ones who know what it is are almost all gone. If you have ever seen Propaganda Village in the North or the DMZ it's self, you might understand why someone would do what he is said to have done. On a side note S Korea is pretty good at catching spies, they have a museum of the equipment and stuff they use to cross the border and keep in touch with their masters on the other side. With all that said I believe that the solider did what he did to get free of the North. What ever family he has left in the north will most likely pay a heavy price for his freedom. They probably knew he was going to run.