South Korea is bombarding North Korean troops stationed in the Demilitarised Zone with news about a compatriot who defected across the border.

Large batteries of loudspeakers set up just to the south of the tense frontier are being used to inform the defector's former comrades that while he suffered serious injuries after being shot by fellow North Korean troops, he has undergone surgery in a South Korean hospital and is making a good recovery.

The 24-year-old North Korean soldier, who has only been identified by his surname, Oh, received more than 3 gallons of blood in a series of transfusions - more than double the amount that is in the human body - and has expressed his gratitude to the South Korean people for saving his life, his doctor told media.

As well as detailing the treatment Mr Oh has received since defecting, the broadcasts are highlighting the fact that North Korean troops fired around 40 shots at him in an effort to stop his escape on November 13, Yohnap news reported.

The broadcasts - which can be heard in villages several miles inside North Korea - are also commenting on the defector's general health.