North Korea releases detained South Korean student, Seoul says
Joo Won-moon is interviewed at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 14.
Reporting from Seoul — 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.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
