South Korean N.Y.U. Student Is Reported Arrested in North Korea

Recently on North Korea's "Korean Central News Agency" the was an announcement that a South Korean student who attended the New York University had been arrested and charged with illegally entering the country. The student, Joo Won-moon a 21 year old, had been detained on April 22 after crossing the Yalu River. The river forms part of North Korea's border with China. What is interesting is that a spokesman from New York University, John Beckman, claimed that "He is not taking any classes this semester, and the university was unaware of his travels,". In the past recent years North Korea has arrested several people who have visited or crossed North Korean borders claiming that they are spies working for the South Korean government. It is unclear if Joo Won-moon is a spy sent from Seoul or just a college student who got lost on the Chinese border, but what is clear is that South Korea is not happy with the situation. This puts further strain on the almost palpable tension between the two countries.

-Kevin Nalefski

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/03/world/asia/new-york-university-student-joo-won-moon-arrested-north-korea-says.html?ref=world&_r=0