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A man is carried to a hospital in Gangneung, South Korea, on June 23, 2014. A South Korean Defence Ministry official says two ambulances were used to bring a fugitive soldier who killed three of his comrades to hospital: one carrying the injured fugitive and the other with another soldier whose body and face were covered by a blanket. The decoy was carried into the hospital as photographers snapped pictures.LEE SANG-HACK/The Associated Press

South Korea's Defence Ministry used a stand-in to portray a captured runaway soldier to deceive journalists as the real fugitive was taken to a hospital following a failed suicide attempt, an official said Tuesday.

The ploy was used because the fugitive needed swift medical treatment and the media could have caused a delay, said a ministry official who requested anonymity citing department rules.

He said two ambulances were used, one carrying the injured fugitive and the other with another soldier whose body and face were covered by a blanket. The decoy was carried into the hospital in the eastern city of Gangneung as photographers snapped pictures.

The official said the ambulance carrying the real fugitive entered the hospital through its basement.

He said it wasn't clear if military personnel at the hospital had directly lied to dozens of journalists waiting there. But he said the military personnel apparently deceived journalists into mistaking the stand-in for the fugitive.

The 22-year-old sergeant surnamed Yim fled after allegedly killing five colleagues and wounding seven others Saturday. He reportedly fired at troops chasing him on Sunday, injuring a platoon leader. He shot himself on Monday before being captured, the military says.

It's not known what caused Yim to go on the alleged shooting spree. He was to finish his mandatory military duty in September. Initial personality tests in April of last year put him within a group of soldiers who need special attention and are unfit for frontline duty, according to the Defence Ministry. But tests last November concluded he had improved and could serve in frontline areas, defence officials said.

Shooting rampages against fellow soldiers happen occasionally in South Korea's military. The country maintains a conscription system that requires all able-bodied men to serve about two years because of threats from North Korea.

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