A former North Korean gymnast claims he leaped over an almost 10-foot-high barbed-wire fence to defect to the safety of the South, according to reports.
Seoul’s defense authorities have launched an investigation into the unidentified defector after his escape across the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) failed to set off any alarms, the Korea Herald said.
The man, described as being in his 20s, told them he used his gymnastic training to leap over the fence undetected — even jumping twice for officials to prove his athletic prowess, according to the report.
To get across the DMZ, he had to get over an almost 10-foot-high fence with land mines on both sides, according to United Press International, which cited local reports.
The fence did not appear to have been cut or modified, and investigators believe his story that he used his gymnastic skill to get across, the reports said.
However, military authorities told local outlet Chosun Ilbo that they believe he may have first scaled an iron pole before jumping from the barbed wire on top.
He had been detected at least twice by South Korea’s surveillance cameras as he loitered near the fence — but still managed to get across even after a heightened alert was issued with extra troops flooding the area, the Yonhap news service said, sparking an ongoing investigation into apparent failures.
He was picked up Nov. 3 about 10 miles from the fence and some 14 hours after he got across, the agency said.
He was unarmed and told South Korean officials that he wanted to defect from the brutal regime in the Hermit Kingdom, the report said.
World - Latest - Google News
November 25, 2020 at 11:02PM
https://ift.tt/366AFgY
Former North Korean gymnast says he jumped over 10-foot fence to defect - New York Post
World - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SeTG7d
https://ift.tt/35oCZy1
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Former North Korean gymnast says he jumped over 10-foot fence to defect - New York Post"
Post a Comment