[4][5] At the JSA, he was sent off by a large group of North Korean civilians waving the flag of reunified Korea and carrying bouquets of flowers.
Associated Press film footage of the event showed Ro's approach to the border-line while a large group of South Korean security officials, South Korean Army personnel assigned to the Joint Security Area (JSA) and military policemen were already awaiting his crossing in preparation for his arrest.
He had entered North Korea via China in March for a memorial service marking the 100th day since the death of ruler Kim Jong-il.
The court ruling said "stern punishment is inevitable because [Ro] made a secret visit to North Korea without permission".
Another activist, Won Jin-wook, received a three-year prison sentence for communicating with North Korean officials to arrange Ro's trip.