seoul north korea reportedly replace guard fortify section border south korea north korean soldier defect last week south korean u.s. soldier decorate role defector rescue north korean defector shoot wound fellow soldier dash south korean side joint security area jsa last week south korean u.s. soldier lead rescue attempt drag gravely injure soldier safety award medals accord u.s. force korea group senior diplomats base seoul visit jsa wednesday morning saw five north korean workers dig deep trench area soldier dash across line get jeep stick small ditch member diplomatic delegation tell reuters friday photograph visit post twitter account act u.s. ambassador south korea marc knapper north korean workers could see use shovel dig deep trench north korean side line soldier stand guard workers watch closely kpa guard two photo others shoot behind build say diplomat ask identify sensitivity situation accord intelligence official cite south korea yonhap news agency north replace 35-40 soldier guard jsa time incident closely monitor north korean military movement jsa south korean defense ministry official tell reporters without confirm reduction border guard limit say things know reuters unable independently verify report although photos take knapper diplomats soldier guard area workers dig trench show dress slightly different uniform ones usually wear north korea jsa guard two new tree also plant small space ditch line south diplomat tell reuters apparent effort make difficult would-be defectors drive across grind meanwhile south korea u.s. force korea usfk say award jsa soldier three south korean three u.s. soldier army commendation medal recognition efforts rescue defector medals personally hand usfk commander vincent brook ceremony thursday accord usfk facebook page soldier responsible drag wound north korean soldier safety dare rescue see security camera footage release unite nations command early week pyongyang comment defection soldier stable condition despite sustain multiple injuries sustain gunshot wound arm torso young soldier know family name oh quiet pleasant man nightmares return north surgeon tell reuters thursday graphic click reut.rs/2jfozpi north korea replace soldier south korea award medals defector 's border dash