Daring Defection Video

[Anchor Lead]

The UN Command announced the results of its investigation into a defection by a North Korean soldier through the Joint Security Area at the truce village of Panmunjeom. It also made the footage taken by surveillance cameras on the scene public. Next, we will bring you video of the dramatic moment.

[Pkg]

At 3:11 p.m. on November 13th, a black military jeep was spotted in the North Korean side of the Joint Security Area at the truce village of Panmumjeom. The vehicle drove fast southwards and seemed to slow down a bit near a guard post in the JSA. But a little later, it accelerated again and a startled guard began to follow the car. the vehicle crossed the 72-hour Bridge to enter the JSA and turned its direction to the south without hesitation. After a while, it fell into a drainage channel and showed no movements. At that instant, North Korean guards armed with rifles and pistols rushed toward the jeep. The North Korean soldier hurriedly disembarked from the car and began to run toward the south. The guards fired roughly 40 shots right away. But the soldier soon crossed into the South Korean area. A guard briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line but soon returned with a look of embarrassment. North Korean guards gathered holding rifles as the urgent situation developed. South Korean guards found the North Korean soldier lying next to the Freedom House. At 3:55 p.m., The commander of the South Korean guard unit and two non-commissioned officers approached the site. By crawling, the two non-commissioned officers pulled the North Korean soldier to a safe area. It ended 44 minutes after the situation began.