S. Korean soldier killed in apparent suicide near border with N. Korea

A South Korean soldier was killed in what could be a suicide with a grenade near the western border with North Korea, military officials said Thursday.

The incident took place at around 5 a.m. when the private first class moved about 100 meters away from a guard post where he and his fellow soldier were on patrol duty.

The 20-year-old was killed at the scene as a grenade he was holding went off soon after he moved from the guard post.

Military authorities presume that the soldier pulled out the grenade's arming pin by himself, and they are investigating the exact cause of the explosion. (Yonhap)