S.Korean Student Detained in N.Korea

North Korea has detained a 21-year-old South Korean student from New York University on charges of illegal entry, the official [North] Korean Central News Agency reported last Saturday.

Joo Won-moon (21) was caught illegally entering North Korea after crossing the Apnok River from Dandong, China on April 22, it added.

"He admitted that his act constitutes a grave crime against the North."

Joo lives in New Jersey with his family and has U.S. green card.

"When he left home, Joo told his family that he was traveling to China," a Foreign Ministry official here said. "We haven't found out yet how he got into North Korea."

"His family are saying that he is neither pro-North Korean, nor particularly evangelical. We believe that he entered the North on impulse," the official said.

There are now four South Koreans detained in the North. There others are Kim Jung-wook, a missionary who was arrested in October 2013; and Kim Kuk-gi and Choi Chun-gil who were charged with spying in March this year.

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