US soldier detained after crossing border into North Korea

An American citizen has been detained in North Korea after straying across the border into the communist country without permission during a tour, the United Nations Command said Tuesday.

The detainee has not been identified, but South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo newspaper, citing South Korea’s army, reported that the person was a US army soldier.

The person was taking part in a visit to the Joint Security Area – the border village in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas that is guarded by soldiers from both sides.

“A US National on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorization, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” the UN Command tweeted.

“We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident,” the tweet continued, referring to North Korea’s People’s Army.