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Japanese captured trying to cross inter-Korean border

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-19 15:21

SEOUL -- A Japanese man was captured by the South Korean military when trying to cross the inter-Korean border into to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK), the Yonhap News Agency quoted South Korean defense ministry official as saying on Thursday.

Related readings:  DPRK reopens border for South Korean workers  Seoul unhappy with border-crossing ban

The 40-year-old man, only identified as K, was captured while approaching a barbed wire fence at the inter-Korean border in the Cheorwon area on Wednesday night, according to Yonhap.

He was detained after being spotted by South Korean guards, and was later handed over to the Japanese embassy in Seoul, it added.

The South Korean government has concluded that he had no harmful motives but was only suffering from a mental disorder, Yonhap said.

The Japanese man arrived in Busan, South Korea 10 days ago, and approached the inter-Korean border with a metal cutting machine, attempting to break into DPRK by cutting the wire fence, South Korea's broadcaster, YTN, reported.