American detained in North Korea after crossing DMZ on tour.

U.S. National⁢ Taken into North Korean Custody After‌ Crossing DMZ Line

According ‍to​ the United Nations, a ⁢U.S. national is believed to have ⁣been taken into North ​Korean custody after ‍crossing‍ into ⁢the communist‍ nation at‍ the DMZ line⁢ during‌ a tour.

The person was ‌reportedly on a‍ tour of the Joint Security Area‍ in the ‍demilitarized zone ⁢when ⁣he crossed into North Korea ⁣and was taken‌ into custody.

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“A U.S.‍ National ⁤on a JSA ⁢orientation⁤ tour crossed,‌ without ​authorization, the Military Demarcation Line⁣ into the Democratic⁣ People’s⁣ Republic of Korea (DPRK). We believe ⁢he is currently in DPRK​ custody ​and are⁣ working ​with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident,” ⁢the U.N. said in a‌ tweet.

A ⁢local South⁣ Korean outlet has⁣ identified ‍the American national‍ as an⁢ Army ⁤soldier named Travis King, ‌though‍ other outlets have not yet confirmed the identity⁤ of the ​American. According to NBC News, JSA tours are ‍conducted by ​both the U.N. and ​private companies, due to the historical‌ significance ‌of ‍the ‍area.

The⁤ incident marks the ‌first time in ⁤several years ⁤that ⁤an‌ American ‌has been taken‍ into⁣ custody in North Korea.⁤ Most travel​ was banned in 2017 due to “the ⁢serious⁢ risk to United‍ States nationals of ‌arrest and long-term detention.”

The move came on⁢ the ⁤heels of 22-year-old college student Otto Warmbier dying after ⁤he‌ was ‍detained in North Korea after being accused of trying⁣ to steal a ‌propaganda poster. Warmbier was sentenced to 15​ years of‌ hard labor‌ before⁤ later being⁢ released by North Korea and ‌returned​ to the U.S. in⁣ a coma. He⁤ died ‍days ‍after his⁣ return ​to America.

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Escalating Tensions

The detention comes after the U.S. sent a nuclear-armed submarine,⁢ the‍ USS Kentucky, to South Korea, the first time that kind ⁢of sub had⁢ been sent to the area⁣ in over 30 years. South ⁢Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup said‌ the sub‍ “shows the ⁢allies’ overwhelming ‌capability and ‍posture against North Korea.”

North‍ Korea launched‌ an ⁢intercontinental ballistic ⁣missile⁢ last week in a ​test as it‌ continues to develop⁢ its nuclear capabilities. ​The tests have ⁣been condemned by‍ the Biden ⁣administration.

“With‌ respect to its intercontinental ballistic missile‌ capability,​ this‌ is⁣ a capability they began testing⁤ several years ago.⁤ They‌ have continued to test it.⁢ We watch all of those ‌tests‍ very closely ⁢to see⁣ how it is developing and we could coordinate extremely closely with our allies ‍— with Japan and Korea —‌ to make sure that we are responding in ‌lockstep to this threat,” ‌national​ security adviser ⁣Jake Sullivan said​ on Sunday.

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