In custody
UN: US citizen illegally crossed North Korean border
A North Korean sentry (above) is seen above a South Korean military fence (below)
© JUNG YEON-JE / AFP
According to the UN, a US citizen illegally crossed the border into North Korea during a visit to the South Korean border area. He is now said to be in North Korean custody.
An American has crossed the inner-Korean border from south to without permission Crossed North Korea and was subsequently arrested. As the United Nations command there announced on Tuesday, the border crosser is now in the custody of the North Korean authorities. The US citizen crossed the military demarcation line “without permission” during a tour of the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea, the UN command said on Tuesday.
Several South Korean media reported on Tuesday that it was a US Army soldier. This was not officially confirmed at first.
Border with North Korea strictly guarded
South Korea and North Korea are still formally at war today because no peace treaty was signed after the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. A demilitarized zone has separated the two Korean states since the end of the war. The areas bordering the border strip are strictly guarded. South Korea is one of America’s allies, while communist North Korea counts the United States among its greatest enemies.
In recent years, Americans have entered North Korea illegally several times. There they were usually sentenced to several years in prison and only released after lengthy negotiations.
Note: This article has been updated. It was added that according to the UN command, the man is in North Korean custody.