North Korea releases detained South Korean student, Seoul says
South Korea’s government said Monday that a South Korean student from New York University has been released by North Korea after about six months of detention.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said North Korea repatriated Joo Won-moon, 21, at the border village of Panmunjom. Joo had been arrested for crossing the Chinese border into North Korea.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said it will investigate whether Joo violated the country’s anti-North Korean security law, which prohibits unapproved travel to the North.
Joo has permanent resident status in the United States. The exact motivation for his entrance to North Korea wasn’t clear.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.