The Louisiana man, 58, was identified only as „A“ by South Korea’s military.
An unidentified American man from Louisiana was detained Monday for apparently attempting to cross into North Korea via the country’s heavily fortified border with the South, according to South Korea’s defense ministry.
The man, 58, identified only as „A,“ was arrested by South Korea’s military after crossing the Civilian Control Line, a restricted border area near the demilitarized zone, or DMZ, that formally separates the two Koreas.
The man’s detention was first reported by Stars and Stripes, a newspaper that serves the American military. South Korean media also reported the news.
According to Star and Stripes, South Korean investigators initially believed that „A“ was attempting to enter North Korea for „political purposes.“ However, that motive was subsequently ruled out after it was determined he had no „Communist connections.“
North Korea is often described as a Communist state, but its official ideology is Juche, or „self-reliance,“ a political system that blends nationalism and Marxist economics.
„A“ was detained after a member of the public alerted South Korea’s military to his presence in the area. The American arrived in South Korea on Friday, according to the Yonhap news agency. The U. S. Embassy in Seoul could not be reached for comment.
