The United Nations Command reported that a U.S. citizen may have been detained by Kim Jong-un’s regime in North Korea after crossing the Military Demarcation Line that divides this country with South Korea "without authorization":
A U.S. national on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorization, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident.
A U.S. National on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorization, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident. pic.twitter.com/a6amvnJTuY
— United Nations Command 유엔군사령부/유엔사 (@UN_Command) July 18, 2023
The UN Command has not yet disclosed the identity of the individual. A source "familiar with the situation" revealed to NBC News that it could be a U.S. soldier.
According to information reported by Reuters, "The person was taking part in a tour to the Joint Security Area on the demilitarised zone border separating the two Koreas since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War where soldiers from both sides stand guard." The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that it had no information about the incident.
The U.S. and North Korea do not have officially established diplomatic relations. A travel advisory from the State Department warns Americans of the dangers of traveling to North Korea and advises against visiting that country "due to the continued serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. citizens."
