'French Spiderman' arrested climbing Lotte World Tower in Seoul - in pictures

Alain Robert involved in 'cat and mouse' chase with security as he scaled a 123-storey skyscraper to celebrate the recent peacemaking efforts between the Koreas

Alain Robert of France is detained by security after climbing up the Lotte World Tower in Seoul. Ed Jones / AFP

Robert, who holds a world record for urban climbing, surrendered to a "cat and mouse" chase. Ed Jones / AFP

Alain Robert of France scales the exterior of the fifth tallest building in the world. Ed Jones / AFP

A man points as he watches 'French Spiderman' scale the tower. Ed Jones / AFP

"I climbed about 75 stories and then after that, it was a bit like cat and mouse," Mr Robert said. "Finally, I decided to surrender." Ed Jones / AFP

"I may get a hefty fine ... but I did it because of what is happening now between South Korea and North Korea," Ed Jones / AFP

Police take French Spiderman away. Jung Yeon-Je / AFP

Mr Robert has scaled more than 100 structures - including the Burj Khalifa. Jung Yeon-Je / AFP

Tthe Lotte Tower is a 123-storey skyscraper in Seoul. Ed Jones / AFP Photo

French urban freeclimber Alain Robert attempted to scale the world's fifth-tallest building on Wednesday, getting more than half way up the 123-storey Lotte World Tower in Seoul before security officers forced him to abandon the climb.

The 55-year-old, sometimes called the "French Spiderman", made his way up the building bare-handed and without ropes as staff pursued him from inside.

"I climbed about 75 stories and then after that, it was a bit like cat and mouse," Mr Robert said. "Finally, I decided to surrender."

He was taken to the rooftop on a maintenance cradle and arrested.

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As he awaited processing by police he said his climb was to celebrate the recent peacemaking efforts between the two Koreas, and he hoped the authorities would take that into account.

"I may get a hefty fine but I did it because of what is happening now between South Korea and North Korea," Mr Robert said.

"That is my way of saying thank you to Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in."

In the last two months the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea has twice met the South's president, the two men exchanging smiles and hugs after years of heightened tensions.

The Lotte Tower is the world's fifth tallest building. Ed Jones / AFP Photo

Mr Robert has scaled more than 100 structures - including the Burj Khalifa - without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for "most buildings climbed unassisted" according to Guinness World Records.

Several fire engines and police were sent to the Seoul building after a security guard spotted the French climber.

"It's regrettable," said You In-sik, a spokesman for the Lotte World Tower. "He climbed without permission. It's dangerous."

Mr Robert has suffered several severe falls while climbing and estimates his accidents have left him 66 per cent disabled. He has been arrested numerous times for his exploits.

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The world's tallest

The sun sets behind the world's tallest completed building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The mega-tall structure was completed in 2010, is 828 metres tall and has 163 floors. Ali Haider / EPA

The Shanghai Tower exterior resembles a snake as it spirals upwards in the Pudong area of the city it was named after in China. At 632 metres tall, it has 128 floors and is the country's tallest building and the world's number two. Roman Pilipey / EPA

An aerial view shows the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, part of the Abraj Al-Bait tower and the Grand Mosque compound, which is 601 metres tall and has 120 floors. It is currently the third tallest building in the world. Mast Irham / EPA

The Ping An Finance Centre rises above other buildings in Shenzhen, China. The building stands 599.1 metres, making it the fourth tallest building in the world but the world's tallest all office building. Jerome Favre / EPA

The Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea, is 554.5 metres in height and has 123 floors, and is the fifth tallest building in the world. Jeon Heon-Kyun / EPA

A view shows the One World Trade Center and its reflection in New York City, US. It is 541.3 metres in height and has 94 floors, making the sixth tallest completed building in the world. Justin Lane / EPA

People stand at the base of the Guangzhou Chow Tai Fook Finance Centre in Guangzhou, China. The building (also called East Tower) is 530 metres in height, has 111 floors, and is the seventh tallest building in the world. EPA

People climb a hill to enjoy the view of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan. Launched as the world's tallest building in 2004, the 508 -metre building with 101 floors is the eighth tallest building in the world. Ritchie B. Tongo / EPA

The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, US, was the tallest building of its time. AP Photo

The Jeddah Tower rises to about 300 metres as work progresses on the structure in Saudi Arabia. Upon completion in 2020-2021, it will be 1,000 metres tall and have 167 floors. Amel Pain / EPA

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