NYU student arrested in North Korea thought his illegal entry would have 'some good effect'

A South Korean citizen and New York University student detained after sneaking into North Korea says he was on a vigilante peace mission — and getting caught was part of his plan.

"I wanted to be arrested," the student, 21-year-old Won-moon Joo, told CNN.

Joo, who is a permanent U.S. resident, told the network he hopped some barbed wire, walked from China into North Korea, and kept on walking until some soldiers stopped him. His compelling motive: the vague notion that his illegal entrance into the Hermit Kingdom would "have some good effect."

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"I thought that some great event could happen and hopefully that event could have a good effect on the relations between the North and the South," Joo told CNN.

Asked to explain what that "great event" could be, Joo added, "I am not completely sure yet."