A South Korean student studying at New York University was arrested last week for traveling into North Korea illegally. Joo Won-Moon is 21 years old student from South Korea who has permanent residency in the United States. He is currently living in Tenafly, NJ.
It has been reported that Joo crossed illegally into North Korea from China. The student was arrested on April 22 and has stated, “that his illegal entry was a serious violation.”
According to the South Korean Unification Ministry, it is believed that Joo is being held in North Korea but that it was “working to fact-check details of the detainment.” They added, “Currently, we cannot announce any more details in consideration of the safety of Joo and his family.”
According to NYU spokesman, John Beckman confirmed that Joo is a student of the University but was not enrolled in classes this semester. A statement released by the University said, “When we heard the news reports, NYU got in touch with the student’s family to express our concerns over his welfare and to convey our support. His well-being is in our thoughts and prayers.”
