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A view of the civilian control line in Yeoncheon County

An American man is being deported after attempting to cross to North Korea over the civilian control line in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. As of Nov. 15, the 58-year-old US citizen, identified by the initial “B,” was undergoing questioning after being arrested on charges of violating the National Security Act and was scheduled to be released and deported the same day, the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency reported.

Under police questioning, B said he had attempted to cross because he believed doing so could contribute to negotiations between North Korea and the US and draw attention to him. He declined to comment on his family or profession, citing “privacy.”

B used information found online to form his plan to cross to North Korea and was unaware before the fact that crossing the civilian control line was against the law, police said. A Louisiana native, B submitted to police questioning and met with the US consul. He does not suffer from any abnormal health issues, sources reported.

B was arrested on a report from a local resident while attempting to illegally enter North Korean territory beyond the civilian control line in the township of Misan, Yeoncheon County, at around 9:55 am on Nov. 13. He entered South Korea on Nov. 3 to carry out the crossing plan and stayed in Seoul and Paju’s Munsan neighborhood before making the attempt.

By Park Kyung-min, North Gyeonggi correspondent

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