UIJEONGBU, South Korea -- A US citizen was arrested by South Korean police Monday for crossing the Civilian Control Line near the inter-Korean border without a permit in an alleged attempt to enter North Korea, authorities concerned said.

The CCL was drawn just below the Demilitarized Zone bisecting the two Koreas from the west to the east in 1954 to strictly protect the security of military facilities and operations there.

The 58-year-old American, only identified as "A," was seized at 9:55 a.m. as he trespassed on the northern side of the control line in the border county of Yeoncheon, 62km north of Seoul, according to the authorities. 

A villager in the county's Baekhak Ward found and reported him to the Army in the region about one hour before his arrest.

He was captured in the nearby Misan Ward. The areas are both under the control of the Army's 28th Infantry Division.

Hailing from Louisiana, the American reportedly came to the South three days ago and violated the line to enter the communist North for political purposes.

A joint probe by the police, Army and National Intelligence Service is currently underway. (Yonhap)