PM urges defense minister to prevent recurrence after trainee soldier’s death

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on Wednesday to come up with measures to prevent a recurrence of cases similar to last week's death of a trainee soldier following a disciplinary session. Han spoke separately with Shin ahead of a Cabinet meeting and gave the instruction after being briefed on the details of the incident, according to his office. "Our military personnel are people who have joined the Army in order to fulfill their duty of national defense, and every one of them is a child of our people who raised them through hard work," Han was quoted as saying. "It is the state's responsibility to do its best to ensure no unnecessary sacrifices while they are dedicating themselves to the nation." The conscript, who joined the Army on May 13, died Saturday, two days after collapsing during a disciplinary session at a unit in Inje County, 126 kilometers northeast of Seoul. He was reportedly ordered to run around the unit's training ground in full combat gear, although discip line training rules only allow soldiers to march in such equipment. He was also reportedly instructed to do push-ups in full gear, when regulations only allow soldiers to be ordered do so without wearing equipment. The prime minister instructed the police to determine the cause of death and those responsible without leaving any suspicions, while ordering the defense ministry to sincerely comfort the bereaved family and fully support the funeral arrangements. Source: Yonhap News Agency