Seoul confirms U.S. citizen arrested attempting defection to North Korea

58-year-old American crossed Civilian Control Line (CCL), hoped to "contribute" in DPRK, JCS says

A U.S. citizen was arrested yesterday attempting to cross into North Korea, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs Staffs (JCS) confirmed on Tuesday. The 58-year-old American, who the JCS say hoped to "contribute" to the North, was arrested at 0955 KST on Monday. The U.S. citizen, who has not been named, crossed the Civilian Control Line (CCL) below the demilitarized zone in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, an official at the Provincial Police Agency told NK News on condition of anonymity A senior official at the JCS told the National Assembly’s defense committee that the arrestee “rambled” during his interrogation by military