South Korea soldier gets death sentence for troop killings
 A South Korean soldier who shot dead five of his colleagues and injured seven others has been sentenced to death by a military court.
The sergeant opened fire in June 2014 at his post near the North Korean border and fled, sparking a manhunt. He was captured two days later after he shot himself during a tense stand-off with troops. It reignited debate on military culture in South Korea, where all males must do about two years military service.
The conscript's attack had previously been attributed by a defence ministry spokesman to his "difficulties in adapting to military life". He had been placed on a list of conscripts requiring special attention. In July last year, the military completed its investigation into the incident and said the attack, at a post near the border town of Goseong, was in revenge for bullying in the army and at school. The 23-year-old recruit, surnamed Im in previous reports but named as Lim by Yonhap news agency, was found guilty of killing and injuring his comrades by detonating a grenade and firing at them. He was also found guilty of running away with a rifle and ammunition, said the news agency.
Under South Korea's military law, a soldier must face the death penalty for killing a superior. One of those killed was a staff sergeant. The soldier expressed remorse in a statement last month before his sentence was announced, AFP news agency reported.
"I feel deeply sorry for the victims and their relatives... I am overcome with remorse... How happy would I be, had it been merely a dream and had it been possible to return to the past?" he said.
r
