PHENOM.
>> WERE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR
>> WERE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR
HER, WILLIE.
HER, WILLIE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>>> AND NOW TO SOMETHING THATS
>>> AND NOW TO SOMETHING THATS
HANGING OVER THESE GAMES, OF
HANGING OVER THESE GAMES, OF
COURSE.
COURSE.
THE NORTH KOREAN CRISIS.
THE NORTH KOREAN CRISIS.
AND THAT COUNTRYS STANDING IN
AND THAT COUNTRYS STANDING IN
THE WORLD.
THE WORLD.
PRESIDENT CLINTON ONCE CALLED
PRESIDENT CLINTON ONCE CALLED
THE DMZ THE SCARIEST PLACE ON
THE DMZ THE SCARIEST PLACE ON
EARTH.
EARTH.
WE VISITED IT TODAY WITH THE
WE VISITED IT TODAY WITH THE
HELP OF U.S. ARMY COLONEL STEVEN
LEE, SECRETARY OF THE UNITEDEVEN
LEE, SECRETARY OF THE UNITED
NATIONS COMMAND MILITARY
NATIONS COMMAND MILITARY
ARMISTICE COMMISSION.
ARMISTICE COMMISSION.
WE WERE GIVEN AN EXCLUSIVE
WE WERE GIVEN AN EXCLUSIVE
MOMENT BY MOMENT ACCOUNT OF ONE
MOMENT BY MOMENT ACCOUNT OF ONE
NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS BID FOR
NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS BID FOR
FREEDOM.
FREEDOM.
>> HE WAS DRIVING.
>> HE WAS DRIVING.
>> Reporter: THIS MORNING, NBC
>> Reporter: THIS MORNING, NBC
NEWS IS THE FIRST WESTERN NEWS
NEWS IS THE FIRST WESTERN NEWS
OUTLET TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE
OUTLET TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE
PATH THAT A DESPERATE NORTH
KOREAN SOLDIER TOOK WHEN HE MADE
KOREAN SOLDIER TOOK WHEN HE MADE
A MAD DASH FOR FREEDOM.
A MAD DASH FOR FREEDOM.
BACK IN NOVEMBER, THAT SOLDIER
BACK IN NOVEMBER, THAT SOLDIER
OCHONG SUN SCRAMBLED ACROSS THE
OCHONG SUN SCRAMBLED ACROSS THE
DMZ, THE HEAVILY GUARDED BORDER
DMZ, THE HEAVILY GUARDED BORDER
THAT SEPARATES THE TWO KOREAS.
THAT SEPARATES THE TWO KOREAS.
ITS WIDELY CONSIDERED ONE OF
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON
EARTH AND WE WERE GIVEN A RARE
EARTH AND WE WERE GIVEN A RARE
TOUR.
TOUR.
THE DARING ESCAPE THAT
THE DARING ESCAPE THAT
CAPTIVATED PEOPLE AROUND THE
CAPTIVATED PEOPLE AROUND THE
WORLD STARTED IN A SPEEDING
WORLD STARTED IN A SPEEDING
JEEP.
JEEP.
CAMERAS ON THE SOUTH KOREAN SIDE
CAMERAS ON THE SOUTH KOREAN SIDE
CAPTURED THE DEFECTION AS IT
UNFOLDED.THE DEFECTION AS IT
UNFOLDED.
THE VEHICLE BLOWING THROUGH A
NORTH KOREAN GUARD POST AND THEN
NORTH KOREAN GUARD POST AND THEN
CRASHING INTO A DITCH.
CRASHING INTO A DITCH.
>> THAT DITCH THAT YOU SEE ON
>> THAT DITCH THAT YOU SEE ON
THEIR SIDE, JUST ABOUT TEN YARDS
THEIR SIDE, JUST ABOUT TEN YARDS
AWAY, IS WHERE HIS JEEP GOT
AWAY, IS WHERE HIS JEEP GOT
STUCK.
STUCK.
>> HE WAS TRYING TO DRIVE ACROSS
THE DIRT JUST TO DRIVE ACROSS?SS
THE DIRT JUST TO DRIVE ACROSS?
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
AND THEN WHEN HE REALIZED HE
AND THEN WHEN HE REALIZED HE
COULDNT, HE GOT OUT.
COULDNT, HE GOT OUT.
AS HE TOOK ABOUT TWO STEPS, AS
AS HE TOOK ABOUT TWO STEPS, AS
YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, THERE WERE
YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, THERE WERE
ABOUT FOUR NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS
ABOUT FOUR NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS
THAT STARTED TO SHOOT AT HIM.
THAT STARTED TO SHOOT AT HIM.
>> Reporter: THAT SOLDIER, THE
>> Reporter: THAT SOLDIER, THE
FIRST DEFECTOR TO PASS THROUGH
FIRST DEFECTOR TO PASS THROUGH
THE HEAVILY GUARDED AREA SINCE
THE HEAVILY GUARDED AREA SINCE
1984.
1984.
>> THESE WERE PART OF THE 24
>> THESE WERE PART OF THE 24
ROUNDS THAT WE HAVE PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE OF.WE HAVE PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE OF.
>> Reporter: THE JOINT SECURITY
>> Reporter: THE JOINT SECURITY
AREA LOCATED IN PANMUNJOM
AREA LOCATED IN PANMUNJOM
VILLAGE, THE PEACE VILLAGE,
VILLAGE, THE PEACE VILLAGE,
MEANT TO ENCOURAGE DIPLOMATIC
MEANT TO ENCOURAGE DIPLOMATIC
EXCHANGES AND IS THE ONLY PLACE
EXCHANGES AND IS THE ONLY PLACE
WHERE NORTH AND SOUTH KOREANS
WHERE NORTH AND SOUTH KOREANS
CAN STAND FACE TO FACE.
CAN STAND FACE TO FACE.
>> IT MUST HAVE BEEN ASTONISHING
>> IT MUST HAVE BEEN ASTONISHING
TO HAVE GUNSHOTS RING OUT HERE
TO HAVE GUNSHOTS RING OUT HERE
IN ONE OF THE MOST TENSE PLACES
IN ONE OF THE MOST TENSE PLACES
IN THE WORLD.
IN THE WORLD.
>> THIS PLACE IS DIFFERENT THAN
ALL OF THE OTHER PLACES ALONGAN
ALL OF THE OTHER PLACES ALONG
THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE.
THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE.
ITS SPECIFICALLY FOR DIALOGUE
ITS SPECIFICALLY FOR DIALOGUE
SO WE SHOULDNT HAVE
SO WE SHOULDNT HAVE
PROVOCATIONS LIKE THAT.
PROVOCATIONS LIKE THAT.
THAT WAS MORE SIGNIFICANT THEY
THAT WAS MORE SIGNIFICANT THEY
FIRED IN THIS AREA.
FIRED IN THIS AREA.
>> CAN WE GO SEE WHERE YOU FOUND
>> CAN WE GO SEE WHERE YOU FOUND
THE SOLDIER?
THE SOLDIER?
>> ITS JUST RIGHT THERE.
>> ITS JUST RIGHT THERE.
>> SO HE RAN THE SAME PATH?
>> SO HE RAN THE SAME PATH?
>> THIS IS BASICALLY THE PATH HE
RAN.HIS IS BASICALLY THE PATH HE
RAN.
IT WAS QUITE REMARKABLE WHEN YOU
IT WAS QUITE REMARKABLE WHEN YOU
SEE THE VIDEO, RIGHT, OF HIM
SEE THE VIDEO, RIGHT, OF HIM
RUNNING AND HE WAS GETTING SHOT
FIVE TO SIX TIMES. GETTING SHOT
FIVE TO SIX TIMES.
>> HES TAKING BULLETS ON THIS
>> HES TAKING BULLETS ON THIS
WHOLE RUN?
WHOLE RUN?
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT HE WASNT FOUND RIGHT
>> BUT HE WASNT FOUND RIGHT
AWAY.
AWAY.
>> NO.
>> NO.
>> IT TOOK SOUTH KOREAN SOLDIERS
>> IT TOOK SOUTH KOREAN SOLDIERS
AND U.S. SERVICEMEN NEARLY 15
AND U.S. SERVICEMEN NEARLY 15
MINUTES TO FIND THE DEFECTOR.
MINUTES TO FIND THE DEFECTOR.
YOU CAN SEE HIM HERE HIDING
YOU CAN SEE HIM HERE HIDING
UNDER LEAVES, HELPLESS.
>> THE SOUTH KOREAN SOLDIERS
>> THE SOUTH KOREAN SOLDIERS
CRAWLED UP FROM THIS HILL TO
CRAWLED UP FROM THIS HILL TO
RESCUE HIM?
RESCUE HIM?
>> THATS BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT
THEIR GUARD POST THERE COULD SEE
THEIR GUARD POST THERE COULD SEE
HERE AND SO INSTEAD OF JUST
HERE AND SO INSTEAD OF JUST
WALKING UP TO HIM, THEY
WALKING UP TO HIM, THEY
LITERALLY HAD TO CRAWL ON THEIR
LITERALLY HAD TO CRAWL ON THEIR
BELLY INCH BY INCH TO GET TO
BELLY INCH BY INCH TO GET TO
HIM.
HIM.
>> FOR ALL YOU KNEW, IF THEY SEE
>> FOR ALL YOU KNEW, IF THEY SEE
HIM BEING RESCUED, THEY TAKE
ANOTHER SHOT?CUED, THEY TAKE
ANOTHER SHOT?
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
EXACTLY.
EXACTLY.
WE ASSESSED TO BE PRUDENT
WE ASSESSED TO BE PRUDENT
MEASURES TO RESCUE HIM BUT ALSO
MEASURES TO RESCUE HIM BUT ALSO
TRY TO PROTECT OUR FORCES.
TRY TO PROTECT OUR FORCES.
>> THATS INCREDIBLE.
>> THATS INCREDIBLE.
THE NORTH KOREAN TOWER IS RIGHT
THE NORTH KOREAN TOWER IS RIGHT
THERE.
THERE.
THEY COULD -- THEY PROBABLY ARE
THEY COULD -- THEY PROBABLY ARE
WATCHING US RIGHT NOW.
WATCHING US RIGHT NOW.
>> YES, THEY ARE.
>> YES, THEY ARE.
>> THEY PROBABLY KNOW WHAT WERE
>> THEY PROBABLY KNOW WHAT WERE
TALKING ABOUT.
TALKING ABOUT.
>> BULLET HOLES STILL SCAR THIS
WALL.LLET HOLES STILL SCAR THIS
WALL.
>> I COUNT ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE.ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE.
>> Reporter: AS THE DEFECTOR WAS
MEDEVACED TO SEOUL WHERE HE WASS
MEDEVACED TO SEOUL WHERE HE WAS
TREATED FOR SEVERAL GUNSHOT
TREATED FOR SEVERAL GUNSHOT
WOUNDS.
WOUNDS.
COLONEL LEE WORKED TO LOWER THE
COLONEL LEE WORKED TO LOWER THE
TENSION RICOCHETING THROUGH THE
AREA.ON RICOCHETING THROUGH THE
AREA.
>> WE OPENED THAT DOOR AND USED
A BULLHORN WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL
A BULLHORN WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL
FOR US TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT THE
FOR US TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT THE
MESSAGE.
MESSAGE.
>> WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE?
>> THE MESSAGE WAS VERY SIMPLY
>> THE MESSAGE WAS VERY SIMPLY
THAT, HEY, ONE OF YOUR SOLDIERS
THAT, HEY, ONE OF YOUR SOLDIERS
DIME OUR SIDE.
DIME OUR SIDE.
WE HAVE HIM.
WE HAVE HIM.
HE NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION.
HE NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION.
HES GETTING THAT NOW.
HES GETTING THAT NOW.
WELL CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION
WELL CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION
AND WHEN ITS DONE, ILL COME
AND WHEN ITS DONE, ILL COME
AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
WE DID THAT ONCE.
WE DID THAT ONCE.
THE NORTH KOREANS ACTUALLY
THE NORTH KOREANS ACTUALLY
SIGNALED TO US WITH A FLASHLIGHT
SIGNALED TO US WITH A FLASHLIGHT
THAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR IT
THAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR IT
AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DIDNT REALLY
AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DIDNT REALLY
HEAR IT WELL.
HEAR IT WELL.
SO WE ACTUALLY READ THE MESSAGE
SO WE ACTUALLY READ THE MESSAGE
AGAIN SO WE KNEW THEY RECEIVED,
AGAIN SO WE KNEW THEY RECEIVED,
AND SO I THINK THAT HELPED TO
AND SO I THINK THAT HELPED TO
ALSO DE-ESCALATE AND MAKE SURE
ALSO DE-ESCALATE AND MAKE SURE
THEY KNEW WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW
THEY KNEW WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW
WE READ THE SITUATION.
WE READ THE SITUATION.
>> YOU LITERALLY SHOUTED IT OVER
>> YOU LITERALLY SHOUTED IT OVER
A BULLHORN?
A BULLHORN?
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
FROM THIS AREA SO THAT THEY
FROM THIS AREA SO THAT THEY
COULD CLEARLY HEAR IT, YEAH.
COULD CLEARLY HEAR IT, YEAH.
>> BECAUSE IF YOU CALLED, WHAT
>> BECAUSE IF YOU CALLED, WHAT
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?
>> WE ACTUALLY DID TRY TO CALL.
>> WE ACTUALLY DID TRY TO CALL.
THEY DIDNT ANSWER THE PHONE.
THEY DIDNT ANSWER THE PHONE.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY GOOD
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY GOOD
TIME FOR THEM TO PICK UP THE
TIME FOR THEM TO PICK UP THE
PHONE.
PHONE.
>> I THINK SO.
>> Reporter: THE U.N. COMMAND
>> Reporter: THE U.N. COMMAND
DOES CALL NORTH KOREA SOME THREE
DOES CALL NORTH KOREA SOME THREE
TIMES A DAY.
TIMES A DAY.
>> THIS IS THE BAT PHONE?
>> THIS IS THE BAT PHONE?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> DONT WORRY.
>> DONT WORRY.
IM NOT GOING TO PICK IT UP.
IM NOT GOING TO PICK IT UP.
>> Reporter: BUT NORTH KOREA
>> Reporter: BUT NORTH KOREA
HASNT PICKED UP THE PHONE
HASNT PICKED UP THE PHONE
EITHER SINCE 2013.
EITHER SINCE 2013.
>> THATS INCREDIBLE.
>> THATS INCREDIBLE.
THE ACCESS AND THE PEEK BEHIND
THE ACCESS AND THE PEEK BEHIND
THE CURTAIN.
THE CURTAIN.
>> IT WAS.
>> IT WAS.
THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHED THAT.
THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHED THAT.
SO EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE A NORTH
SO EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE A NORTH
KOREAN SOLDIER DEFECT AND HE WAS
KOREAN SOLDIER DEFECT AND HE WAS
UNDER A HAIL OF GUNFIRE.
UNDER A HAIL OF GUNFIRE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A WESTERN
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A WESTERN
NEWS ORGANIZATION HAS SEEN THE
NEWS ORGANIZATION HAS SEEN THE
BULLET HOLES AND HEARD ABOUT
BULLET HOLES AND HEARD ABOUT
WHAT WENT ON.
WHAT WENT ON.
>> AND THAT COMMUNICATION.
>> AND THAT COMMUNICATION.
YOUD NEVER EXPECT THAT.
YOUD NEVER EXPECT THAT.
>> A BULLHORN.
>> A BULLHORN.
ITS NOT THE WAY THE, YOU KNOW,
ITS NOT THE WAY THE, YOU KNOW,
U.S./SOUTH KOREAN SIDE WOULD
U.S./SOUTH KOREAN SIDE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE COMMUNICATION GO
LIKE TO HAVE COMMUNICATION GO
BUT SOMETIMES THATS ALL THERE
