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| North Korea displays detainee identified as American accused of spying | North Korea displays detainee identified as American accused of spying |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man identified by North Korea as an American detainee said Friday he conducted espionage against the Communist nation and appealed for leniency at a state-controlled appearance that marked the first official accounting of his alleged crimes. | A man identified by North Korea as an American detainee said Friday he conducted espionage against the Communist nation and appealed for leniency at a state-controlled appearance that marked the first official accounting of his alleged crimes. |
| The highly scripted display of the prisoner — identified as Kim Dong-chul, a former resident of Fairfax, Va. — is certain to escalate tensions with Washington less than two weeks after North Korea sentenced an American student to 15 years in prison with hard labor for allegedly trying to take a sign as a souvenir during a tour. | The highly scripted display of the prisoner — identified as Kim Dong-chul, a former resident of Fairfax, Va. — is certain to escalate tensions with Washington less than two weeks after North Korea sentenced an American student to 15 years in prison with hard labor for allegedly trying to take a sign as a souvenir during a tour. |
| [North claims video shows student caught in act] | [North claims video shows student caught in act] |
| There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials. But Washington has previously accused North Korea of taking Americans into custody as political pawns in its showdowns with the West over issues such as Pyongyang’s nuclear program. | There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials. But Washington has previously accused North Korea of taking Americans into custody as political pawns in its showdowns with the West over issues such as Pyongyang’s nuclear program. |
| In the North Korean capital, news agencies said Kim was brought before reporters and stated that he spied for South Korea’s intelligence agencies, sought to obtain details of the North’s military programs and tried to spread “religious” ideas — a serious crime in the North. | In the North Korean capital, news agencies said Kim was brought before reporters and stated that he spied for South Korea’s intelligence agencies, sought to obtain details of the North’s military programs and tried to spread “religious” ideas — a serious crime in the North. |
| Pyongyang accused Kim receiving a USB drive and documents containing secrets about North Korea’s nuclear and military activities. Kim admitted this in court, KCNA reported. | |
| Kim — wearing a blue suit and at times flanked by security officials — describing his alleged acts as “unpardonable” yet appealed for mercy, North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency reported. He was detained in October, the agency said. | Kim — wearing a blue suit and at times flanked by security officials — describing his alleged acts as “unpardonable” yet appealed for mercy, North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency reported. He was detained in October, the agency said. |
| North Korea has held similar events previously in which prisoners made statements that appear pre-vetted by authorities. Some former detainees later said their public statements in the North followed intense pressure and coercion. | North Korea has held similar events previously in which prisoners made statements that appear pre-vetted by authorities. Some former detainees later said their public statements in the North followed intense pressure and coercion. |
| [North Korea threatens to “scorch” South’s seat of power] | [North Korea threatens to “scorch” South’s seat of power] |
| Photos posted by KCNA showed Kim bowing and appearing to wipe away tears. | Photos posted by KCNA showed Kim bowing and appearing to wipe away tears. |
| In an interview with CNN in January, the South Korean-born Kim said he was a naturalized American citizen and had lived in Fairfax before moving in 2011 to the Chinese city of Yanji, a crossroads for trade with nearby North Korea. | In an interview with CNN in January, the South Korean-born Kim said he was a naturalized American citizen and had lived in Fairfax before moving in 2011 to the Chinese city of Yanji, a crossroads for trade with nearby North Korea. |
| Kim told CNN he worked in Rason, a special economic zone in North Korea, as head of a trade and hotel services company. | Kim told CNN he worked in Rason, a special economic zone in North Korea, as head of a trade and hotel services company. |
| South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, the country’s main spy agency, had no immediate comment after Kim’s appearance, the Associated Press reported. | South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, the country’s main spy agency, had no immediate comment after Kim’s appearance, the Associated Press reported. |
| Last week, North Korea’s highest court sentenced 21-year-old Otto Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, for allegedly trying to steal a propaganda banner during an organized tour over the New Year’s holiday. | Last week, North Korea’s highest court sentenced 21-year-old Otto Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, for allegedly trying to steal a propaganda banner during an organized tour over the New Year’s holiday. |
| [The strange ways North Korea makes detainees confess on camera] | |
| North Korea has sharply boosted its confrontations with the West and its allies after tests earlier this year of a nuclear device and a long-range ballistic missile. This week, North Korea held test-fire drills in response to U.S.-South Korean military exercises. | North Korea has sharply boosted its confrontations with the West and its allies after tests earlier this year of a nuclear device and a long-range ballistic missile. This week, North Korea held test-fire drills in response to U.S.-South Korean military exercises. |
| North Korea is also holding three South Koreans and a Canadian pastor for what it calls espionage and attempts to establish churches to undermine the rule of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. | North Korea is also holding three South Koreans and a Canadian pastor for what it calls espionage and attempts to establish churches to undermine the rule of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. |
| Separately, Kenneth Bae, a Korean American missionary who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor but later freed, urged Americans to lobby for the release of Warmbier and Korean Canadian pastor Lim Hyeon-soo, who is serving a life sentence. | |
| Bae was released at the end of 2014 after being held for 18 months, Bae and other American detainee were turned over to James R. Clapper, director of U.S. national intelligence, who made a rare visit to Pyongyang for the release. | |
| “Every petition you sign and every letter you write to support prisoners being held can make a big difference,” Bae said in a statement released by his publisher. Bae’s book about his detention will be published in May. | |
| “Ask yourself how you can help. Sign a petition. Write a letter. Call your congressional leaders,” Bae said. “Let’s stand together with them and show that so many of us care about them and want to see them come home to their families soon.” | |
| However, it is not clear that any of the detainees are receiving news from the outside world. Warmbier has not been allowed to contact his parents in Ohio. | |
| Anna Fifield in New York contributed to this report. | |
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