NYU Student Arrested in North Korea

Won Moon Joo accused of entering country illegally
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 2, 2015 9:01 AM CDT
NYU Student Arrested in North Korea
A North Korean soldier stands on the river bank in Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, Wednesday, June 12, 2013.   (AP Photo)

North Korea said today 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 says has permanent residency in the US and lives in New Jersey, was arrested on April 22 after crossing the Amnok River from the Chinese town of Dandong, 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 didn't want to be named, citing office rules, said it couldn't immediately confirm whether Joo was a South Korean citizen and was being held in North Korea. Officials from South Korea's intelligence agency were unreachable for comment. (More North Korea stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X