Joo Won-moon is a 21-year-old South Korean who was studying in the US when he decided to take a semester off, visit California and - while he was at it - sneak into North Korea across the China border. You know, your typical gap year.
Earlier today, CNN had a chance to meet Joo (video can't be embedded, but watch it here) and he seems pretty relaxed about the whole 'international incident' thing.
"He doesn't seem too concerned about the fact that he could potentially face very serious charges," says CNN reporter Will Ripley in a voice-over as totally chill Joo smiles and shakes his hand.
"Well, I thought [that by illegally entering North Korea] that some great event could happen," Joo said. "Hopefully that event could have a good effect in [sic] the relations between the North and South [Koreas]."
To their credit, CNN pushed Joo to elaborate on the 'great event,' but they didn't get far.
"I'm not completely sure yet [about what the event is], but I hope that I'll be able to tell the world how an ordinary college student entered the DPRK, illegally, but [with the] generous treatment of the DPRK, that I will be able to return home safely."
In other words, it doesn't sound like Joo really thought this one through. His explanation above sounds like a movie pitch - "how an ordinary college student..." - but then degrades into him just asking to call time out so he can go back home.
Joo got into North Korea by hiking across the border - and through two barbed wire fences - from China. No word yet on how (or if) he'll leave.
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