N. KOREAN DEFECTOR ‘CRITICAL’

SEOUL: A North Korean soldier shot while defecting to the South has undergone several surgeries and is in critical condition, South Korea said yesterday. “Until this morning, we heard he had no consciousness and was unable to breathe on his own but his life can be saved,” Suh Wook, chief director of operations at South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, told lawmakers. Five bullets had been extracted from the defector’s body so far, leaving an estimated two inside. – Reuters