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US man 'arrested' in North Korea | US man 'arrested' in North Korea |
(about 2 hours later) | |
North Korean authorities have said they have arrested a US man who crossed into their territory. | North Korean authorities have said they have arrested a US man who crossed into their territory. |
The North's official KCNA news agency said the man had entered the country from China on 24 December. There is no official word on the man's identity. | The North's official KCNA news agency said the man had entered the country from China on 24 December. There is no official word on the man's identity. |
However there have been reports that Robert Park, a US Christian activist, recently crossed into North Korea. | However there have been reports that Robert Park, a US Christian activist, recently crossed into North Korea. |
Colleagues say he wanted to highlight the country's human rights record and demand the release of prisoners. | Colleagues say he wanted to highlight the country's human rights record and demand the release of prisoners. |
"On December 24, a US citizen illegally entered the country across the North Korea-China border and has been detained. The person is currently undergoing questioning by a related agency," KCNA news agency said. | "On December 24, a US citizen illegally entered the country across the North Korea-China border and has been detained. The person is currently undergoing questioning by a related agency," KCNA news agency said. |
Visions | |
Associates of Mr Park reported that he had walked into North Korea from China across the frozen Tumen River on Christmas Day, 25 December. | |
Mr Park, a US citizen of Korean ancestry from Tucson, Arizona, claimed he had seen a vision from God of North Korea's liberation and redemption, his colleagues said. | |
They said he walked across the border shouting: "I am an American citizen. I brought God's love. God loves you and God bless you." | |
South Korean activists supporting Mr Park say he carried a letter urging the North's leader, Kim Jong-Il, to free political prisoners and improve human rights in the communist state. | |
Earlier this year North Korea detained two US journalists on the border with China. | |
Laura Ling and Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years' hard labour but were freed as part of a diplomatic mission spearheaded by former US President Bill Clinton in August after four months in captivity. |