Andrei Lankov, a Russia-born North Korea expert and professor at Kookmin University, was detained and subsequently deported by Latvian authorities.
According to AP and other international news agencies on the 25th, Professor Lankov was apprehended by Latvian police the previous day while delivering a lecture titled "What Does the North Korean Leadership Want and Fear?" in Riga, the Latvian capital.
Following his detention, Lankov was transferred to immigration authorities, issued a deportation order, and transported to the border area. The specific reasons for his arrest and detention by Latvian authorities have not yet been confirmed.
With assistance from acquaintances, Professor Lankov traveled to neighboring Estonia. He reportedly plans to remain in Europe for the time being to fulfill his upcoming schedule.
Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Professor Lankov lived in North Korea for four years starting in 1980 as an exchange student. He subsequently pursued North Korean studies and began teaching courses on North Korea in Seoul in 2004. He currently holds Russian and Australian citizenship. Lankov has publicly expressed critical views on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's deployment of troops to the Ukraine war.