Man who tried to enter North will be freed

A U.S. citizen who has been detained for crossing the Civilian Control Line without permission in an attempt to enter North Korea will be freed and deported Wednesday, the police here said.

The 58-year-old American, only identified as “A,” was seized at 9:55 a.m. Monday as he trespassed on the northern side of the control line in Yeoncheon County, 62 kilometers (38.5 miles) north of Seoul.

Hailing from Louisiana, the American reportedly came to the South three days before his arrest and violated the line to enter the communist North, a breach of the National Security Law.

Drawn just below the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone bisecting the two Koreas, the line strictly controls civilian entry to protect the security of military facilities and operations there, and anyone who crosses it is required to get a prior permit.

In a police probe, the American reportedly stated that he had done the illegal act in the thought that it would contribute to U.S.-North Korea negotiations and subsequently he could attract public attention.

Testifying that he collected information from the internet for his plan to enter the North, the U.S. national claimed, that he had not, however, recognized that crossing the line constitutes a violation of laws, according to the police.

Yonhap