Dental Identification of Terrorist Bombing of Korean Airline: A Case Report.

Kim, Chong Youl

Original article

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2000;24(2):45-50.
Published online October 31, 2000.

Dental Identification of Terrorist Bombing of Korean Airline: A Case Report.

¹Department of Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Korea.
²Department of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Korea.

Abstract

A Korean Airliner, KAL 858 was exploded over Thailand on November 29, 1987. The suspect with the forged Japanese passport was dead by biting an ample of cyanide gas contained in the filter tip of a cigarette. Forensic odontological examinations including bite mark, dental age estimation and dental characteristics were performed. From these examinations, it could be assumed that (1) he had specific difference in dental treatment which suggested a North Korean by comparison of the fisherman arrested under the North Korea, (2) the filter of cigarette was positioned between the suspect's dentition, (3) he was approximately 70 years old by dental age estimation at time of death. This paper indicates that forensic odontological examination can support personal identification and the circumstances of death in international case where disguised identity plays a part.

Key Words: Dental identification, Bite mark, Age estimation, Dental treatments