Across the Border

A U.S. citizen is believed to have crossed the inter-Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) border into North Korea without authorization, according to a statement by the United Nations Command overseeing the DMZ. It is presumed that the individual is now under North Korean custody.

The unidentified U.S. national was a participant of a tour to the Joint Security Area (JSA) within the DMZ. This area, with soldiers from both North and South Korea on patrol, has been a significant location since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo daily initially identified the person as Travis King, a U.S. army private second class. However, the newspaper later retracted the name. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the person’s identity.

The U.N. Command announced on Twitter, “A U.S. National on a JSA tour crossed, without authorization, into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).” It further stated that they believe the individual is in DPRK custody and they are coordinating with their KPA (Korean People’s Army) counterparts to resolve the incident.

The individual managed to cross the border during a visit to the Panmunjom truce village, a part of the tour. According to South Korean daily newspapers Donga and the Chosun Ilbo, the person abruptly crossed the brick line marking the border.

Colonel Isaac Taylor, spokesperson for the U.S. military in South Korea (USFK) and the U.N. Command, declined to confirm whether the individual was a U.S. Army soldier or a USFK member. He said they were still investigating the incident. No immediate responses were received from the White House, the U.S. State Department, and the Pentagon.

This unauthorized border crossing incident comes at a critical time of escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula. A U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine recently arrived in South Korea, signaling a warning to North Korea over its military activities. Additionally, North Korea has been testing powerful missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

South Korea’s Defense Ministry stated that they did not immediately have any information on the border crossing incident. The U.S. State Department has banned U.S. nationals from entering North Korea due to the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention. This travel advisory was implemented after U.S. student Otto Warmbier was detained by North Korean authorities during a tour in 2015. He died in 2017 shortly after being released from North Korea in a coma.