The fugitive South Korean solider, who had been at large after killing five comrades in a shooting spree Saturday night, was captured alive on Monday afternoon after attempting to commit suicide with his K-2 rifle, local broadcaster YTN and Yonhap News Agency reported.

The armed deserter attempted to kill himself by firing shots at his own flank with his K-2 gun, after standing face to face with trailing soldiers for hours in a region some 7 km east of the scene where the shooting rampage took place.

The runaway Army sergeant, identified only by his surname Lim, attempted a suicide at about 2:55 p.m. local time when his father and brother were pleading with him to turn himself in to the military.

Lim was being taken to a nearby hospital, and the injury was not threatening his life, according to reports.

The 22-year-old, who was serving sentry at the Demilitarized Zone, fired some 10 shots at his fellow soldiers at about 8:15 p.m. Saturday, killing five and wounding seven others.