N. Korea Releases Detained S. Korean Student

The young man was later granted permanent residency in the United States – where he attended classes at New York University.

Despite calling his release a “humanitarian” measure, experts tell the New York Times North Korea is obviously trying to bolster relations with South Korea and probably chose to free Joo over, say, one of the country’s other South Korean prisoners, because his charges were relatively minor.

Joo’s release came after he was presented to the media in Pyongyang on September 25 and read out what appeared to be an officially approved statement, admitting his guilt and singing the country’s praises.

Past detainees in North Korea have said that they are frequently coached and coerced into making statements for global audiences.

The student was handed over to South Korean officials at the border Monday afternoon, Seoul said.

“It’s a relief that North Korea has made a decision to repatriate our national, Joo”, the official noted, adding that the North should also send home three other South Koreans still held in the country – missionary Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kuk-gi and Choe Chun-gil.

Last week, North Korea threatened to cancel the reunion, citing “reckless” remarks by South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme and human rights record.

Analysts are interpreting the move from Pyongyang to be an indicator that the North is still interested in bettering its relationship with its southern neighbor.

“We are absolutely unified and in solidarity with regard to challenges posed by North Korea”, US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said. The National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s main spy agency, said it will investigate whether Joo violated the country’s anti-North Korean security law, which prohibits unapproved travel to the North. However, during a May news conference, Joo Won-moon said he was “willing to accept any punishment” for the crime.

“Sending Joo means being able to receive a visiting Chinese delegation to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding the Workers’ Party of Korea (on Saturday)”, Cheong Seong-chang, head of the Unification Strategy Team at the Sejong Institute told NK News. Although he said he was still being denied contact with his family and friends, the young man said he was being “treated generously” and was “very healthy”.

Two of the captives have already been sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor.