Updated throughout with new information. The United States is currently facing a new diplomatic incident with North Korea. On Tuesday, the United Nations tweeted that a US national, who was on an organized tour of the Joint Security Area, crossed the border into North Korea without authorization and is now detained. The United Nations Command is working with their counterparts in North Korea to resolve the incident.
Reuters reports that the American has been identified as a US Army private, which has also been supported by reports in the US.
According to The Washington Post, CNN, and the AP, the person in question is a US soldier, as per anonymous US officials. The Washington Post quotes one official stating that the crossing was a deliberate decision. It is worth noting that these claims have not been confirmed by the State Department. Tours of the Joint Security Area have been conducted for many years, either by private companies or the UN.
The State Department has issued an advisory warning US nationals against entering North Korea due to the risk of detention. This policy was implemented after the tragic case of Otto Warmbier, who was detained and ultimately died in 2017. Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Pyongyang remain high. The arrival of the USS Kentucky, a nuclear-powered submarine, at a South Korean naval base further adds to the strained atmosphere. The United States has emphasized its commitment to the Republic of Korea through this visit.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
