American caught at edge of N. Korea

Separately, a soldier from the North is shot while crossing into the South at Panmunjom.

SEOUL — South Korean authorities captured a U.S. citizen in a buffer zone along the North Korean border, officials said.

The man, who was not identified, was detained Monday morning in the civilian control line, a miles-wide zone along the border established after the Korean War to prevent skirmishes.

Separately, a North Korean soldier crossed into South Korea at Panmunjom, the complex used by both countries for diplomatic talks over the years to visit the demilitarized zone.

The incident began with the soldier, who hasn’t been identified, driving near the border before leaving his vehicle and fleeing amid gunshots from his fellow North Korean soldiers. At least one shot hit him.

American officials said the wounded soldier then hid near a building on the South Korean side of the complex, before South Korean and American troops — who have worked at the complex together for decades — rescued him.

South Korean authorities, accompanied by a United Nations escort and interpreter, took the soldier to a hospital. No American or South Korean forces were hurt in the incident, which is under investigation.

A spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry, Kwon Ki-hyun, confirmed broad details about the incident involving the U.S. citizen but deferred specific questions about the man — and any potential charges — to police and the National Intelligence Service. Neither could be reached for comment.

An official with the U.S. Embassy said authorities were looking into what happened but couldn’t immediately provide more details.

“If it is determined that a U.S. citizen has been detained, the U.S. Embassy will provide appropriate consular services,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that the man entered the country three days ago.