WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. soldier has crossed the inter-Korean border into North Korea, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
One of the officials said the soldier was believed to be in North Korean custody. The officials did not immediately offer further information.
The Washington Post said that two U.S. officials confirmed the person was scheduled on a recent flight back to the U.S. but that he did not board the plane. One of the anonymous officials reportedly told the outlet, “This was a deliberate decision on the part of the service member to cross.”
According to the BBC, the region is encircled by an electric and barbed wire fence, landmines, surveillance cameras, and armed guards on duty around-the-clock. The BBC also notes that very few people opt to enter or leave North Korea through the DMZ due to the serious risk of death for those who do.
The United Nations Command that oversees the demilitarized zone area at the border earlier on Tuesday identified the individual as a U.S. national but offered no further details about their identity.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
