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Returned NYU student from N. Korea released after two days of questioning

October 7, 2015
Won Moon Joo, a South Korean student at New York University, is interviewed at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea Tuesday, July 14, 2015. Joo, who is being detained in North Korea says he hopes to be released soon and has told his family not to worry too much about him. Joo was presented to the media in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

Won Moon Joo, a South Korean student at New York University, is interviewed at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea Tuesday, July 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — A South Korean college student repatriated by North Korea after months of detention in the communist state was released Wednesday after two days of questioning over his possible collaboration with Pyongyang, prosecution officials said.

Joo Won-moon was released earlier in the day after two days of questioning at the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The New York University student who holds a U.S. green card was repatriated from North Korea on Monday, nearly six months after he was arrested by North Korean forces for illegally crossing into the North from China on April 22.

The prosecution officials said the NIS has removed Joo from its custody as his current allegations did not require physical detention, but that the 21-year-old had a lot to answer for.

“There still is much that needs to be investigated,” an official said, asking not to be identified.

While in North Korea, Joo had given a press conference, in which he said he was curious about what real life in North Korea was like, offering his wish to personally experience it as a reason for crossing the China-North Korea border.

In that same press conference, the South Korean had also urged Seoul and Washington to give up their hostile policy toward Pyongyang, prompting suspicions that he may have turned sides.

Three other South Koreans, including Christian missionary Kim Jung-wook, are still held in North Korea.