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May 3, 2015

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US student arrested in NKorea

NORTH Korea said yesterday it has arrested a South Korean student of New York University for illegally entering the country from China last month.

Won Moon-joo, who North Korea said has permanent residency in the United States and lives in the state of New Jersey, was arrested on April 22 after crossing the Yalu River (Amnok River) from Dandong, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The 21-year-old man is being questioned by state authorities and has admitted that his actions were in violation of North Korean law, the agency said.

An official from South Korea’s Unification Ministry, who asked not to be named, said it couldn’t immediately confirm whether the man is a South Korean citizen and is being held in North Korea.

Officials from South Korea’s intelligence agency were unreachable for comment.

North Korea has occasionally detained South Koreans, Americans and other foreigners, often on accusations of spying, in what analysts said are attempts to wrest outside concessions.

In March, North Korea said it had detained two South Korean citizens over alleged espionage.

It has been holding another South Korean man since late 2013 on suspicion of spying and allegedly trying to set up underground churches in North Korea. He was sentenced last year to life in prison with hard labor.

Also last year, North Korea released three Americans — two of whom entered the country on tourist visas — and Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary who was convicted of “anti-state” crimes.

An Australian missionary detained for spreading Christianity was deported after he apologized for anti-state religious acts and requested forgiveness.




 

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