A United States citizen is believed to be in custody in North Korea after he crossed the border without permission during a tour. Though his identity has not been officially confirmed, South Korean newspaper The Dong-a Ilbo reported that he is a US Army soldier named Travis King.

“A US national on a JSA orientation tour crossed, without authorisation, the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” the UN Command tweeted.

“We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident,” it added.

The incident occurred near the Joint Security Area (JSA), where South and North Korean forces face each other, and it is often used for diplomatic meetings between the two countries. Additionally, the JSA serves as a popular tourist spot.

Colonel Isaac Taylor, a spokesman for the US military in South Korea, acknowledged the situation, stating, “We’re still doing some research into this, and everything that happened.”

It is important to note that the US prohibits its citizens from entering North Korea, given its notorious reputation as a totalitarian state run by Kim Jong Un.