A U.S. citizen was caught trying to cross a river border between South and North Korea, government sources said Wednesday. The man, who appeared to be in early his 30s, was taken into custody by South Korean Marines at around 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. He had been attempting to swim across the Han River to go to the communist country.

The man allegedly told the officials that his purpose was to meet the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.“The American man was swimming northward with the current when he grew tired and laid low near the riverside. This was when he was discovered by the Marines,” the source said.“I believe this is the first time an American has tried to flee to the North in the Gimpo area.”