North Korea is to free a South Korean national who had been attending New York University before his detention, Seoul officials said yesterday, in a possible sign Pyongyang wants better ties with rival Seoul and might back away from a recent threat to launch a long-range rocket later this month.
North Korea told South Korea that it would repatriate Joo Won-moon, 21, at the border village of Panmunjom yesterday, the South Korean Ministry of Unification said in a statement. Joo, who has permanent resident status in the US, was arrested in April for allegedly illegally crossing the Chinese border into North Korea. His motivation was not clear.
North Korea often uses detainees in attempts to win political concessions and aid from rivals Seoul and Washington, and a South Korean analyst said Pyongyang might have calculated that since Joo’s alleged crime was relatively minor, his release might boost the impoverished, authoritarian country’s international image and lead to more investment and tourism chances.
Last month, Joo was presented to the media in Pyongyang and said he had not been able to contact his family, but wanted them to know he was healthy. For most of the 30-minute appearance, Joo read a prepared — and probably coached — speech praising the country, its government and people. Other foreigners who have been detained in North Korea have said after their release that they were coached closely on what to say in such statements.
Joo is one of four South Koreans known to be held in North Korea. The other three are accused of more serious acts of espionage or attempts to establish underground Christian churches in the country.
The release comes amid speculation that North Korea might not go ahead with an earlier threat to launch what it calls satellites aboard long-range rockets to mark this week’s 70th birthday of its ruling party.
A launch would deepen an international standoff. The US, South Korea and their allies say North Korea’s launches are disguised tests of its long-range missiles that are banned by the UN.
However, recent commercial satellite imagery showed no signs of preparations at the North’s main launch site. South Korean defense officials also have seen no indication of an imminent launch.
The launch plans earlier cast doubt over a possible easing in animosity between the Koreas. In late August they agreed to resume the reunions of families separated by the Korean War after ending a military standoff caused by a mine blast on the border that Seoul blamed on the North. The blast seriously injured two South Korean soldiers.
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