A 250 kilometer long and four kilometer wide demilitarized zone separates North and South Korea, since 1953 when the Korean armistice was signed. The area is today a popular tourist destination, with hundreds of visitors every day.
On Wednesday, a tour took an unexpected turn when an American citizen, an off-duty soldier at the time, strayed and crossed the border into the closed dictatorship.
“Thought he was joking”
Swedish Micaela Johansson was on the same full-day excursion, where they, among other things, had to go down the third of four tunnels previously dug by North Koreans. She tells SVT Nyheter that they had eaten lunch and gone to the joint security area, also known as the Joint Security Area (JSA), when the incident occurred. Before that, she had exchanged a few words with the man, who she describes as low-key.
– The big highlight of the whole trip was going into what is called T2, the house that is literally on both the South Korean and North Korean sides, says Micaela Johansson.
After going in there, the whole group was told to stand behind the yellow line – when the man suddenly lets out a laugh and “just pulls”.
– The feeling was “Shit, what is happening”. I thought he was joking. It’s like it’s not in one’s mind that anyone would want to run over to North Korea.
Believed to be in custody
Micaela Johansson says that no North Korean guards were visible, not even in Panmungak, the building located on the North Korean side of the border. After the incident, they were ordered to run back to the military bus and then leave. They were also asked not to share any photos.
– I hope that this will be resolved somehow and that he will return safely, she says.
The American soldier is now believed to be detained and in North Korean custody. The White House has asked Sweden and South Korea for help with the situation.