The Unification Bridge made headlines when the late Hyundai Group Chairman Chung Ju-young Chung drove a herd of cattle across the bridge to North Korea on June 16, 1998, the day after its opening. The northern section of the bridge is a civilian exclusion zone and is not open to the public. (Image: Wikimedia Commons/CCL)
SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Korea Bizwire) –A North Korean defector in his 30s was arrested by South Korean police after attempting to cross the heavily fortified border back into North Korea in a stolen bus.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of October 1, has raised questions about the challenges faced by some North Korean refugees in adjusting to life in South Korea.
According to the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency, the man, identified only by his surname ‘A’, was apprehended on charges of theft and other offenses.
Mr. A allegedly stole a village bus from a parking lot in the Munsan area of Paju at around 1 a.m. and drove it to the southern end of Unification Bridge, a civilian-restricted area near the border.
Police reports indicate that Mr. A continued driving towards North Korea despite warnings from South Korean military sentries. The vehicle eventually came to a stop after colliding with military barricades. Responding to the alert, local police arrived at the scene and arrested Mr. A.
During initial questioning, Mr. A reportedly told investigators that he was attempting to return to North Korea due to the difficulties he faced living in South Korea. Authorities confirmed that Mr. A was neither intoxicated nor under the influence of drugs at the time of his arrest.
The Unification Bridge was built to replace the existing Bridge of Freedom in Panmunjom. (Yonhap)
The case has been transferred to the security investigation division of the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency for further inquiry. Preliminary investigations reveal that Mr. A defected from North Korea about a decade ago and had been residing in the Sillim-dong area of Seoul until recently.
A police spokesperson stated, “We are investigating whether Mr. A defected alone and if he has any family members currently in South Korea.”
The official added that given Mr. A’s expressed desire to return to North Korea, law enforcement agencies are considering the possibility of additional charges under the National Security Act.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
