An American soldier who illegally crossed the border from the inter-Korean demilitarized zone has reportedly been detained by North Korea.
According to the Daily Mail, United Nations Command tweeted on Tuesday that they now believe the US citizen is in the North Korean government’s custody.
The yet-to-be-identified US soldier was taking part in a tour of the Joint Security Area, the border village in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas where soldiers from both sides stand guard.
UN Command tweeted, “A US National on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorisation, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and is working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident,’ it added, referring to North Korea’s People’s Army.”
Since July 1953 when the Armistice was signed, the Military Demarcation Line marks the border between North and South Korea.
The Korean Demilitarised Zone sits on either side of the border, stretching 2km each way.