S. Korea military shooting kills three: ministry

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SEOUL: A South Korean Marine opened fire on colleagues at a frontline guard post Monday, killing three of them and injuring two, the defence ministry said.

The corporal was on duty at Ganghwa island west of Seoul, a ministry spokesman said, adding the incident only involved South Korean forces. He had no other immediate details.

A staff sergeant, a corporal and a lance corporal were killed while a corporal and a private were injured, Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified military official as saying.

The shooter himself was also slightly injured, the official said, adding that the wounded received first aid and were taken to hospital.

North and South Korea are still technically at war after their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice instead of a full peace treaty.

The military has campaigned against abuse and harassment of junior soldiers by their seniors. (AFP)