American Citizen Detained In North Korea After Crossing Border From South Korea

KEY BACKGROUND

The border separating North Korea and South Korea is one of the most heavily fortified strips of land on the planet. The area is strewn with land mines and many troops and guard posts are stationed on both sides. Both countries are still technically at war as there has never been a treaty to end the Korean War, which began in the 1950s. Border crossings are infrequent, but not uncommon, occurrences, though they almost always involve people traveling from the isolated and repressive North to the modern and affluent South. South Korean officials claim tens of thousands of people have defected from the North since the late 90s. Crossings from the South into the North, however, are much rarer.

TANGENT

Americans are actually banned from visiting North Korea and U.S. passports are invalid for travel to or through the country unless explicit permission has been granted from the State Department. The State Department says the ban is in place “due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals” in North Korea. It was implemented in 2017 following the death of American student Otto Warmbier, who suffered severe injuries during detention in North Korea after being sentenced to hard labor for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster when visiting the country.