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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Freed US man leaves North Korea | Freed US man leaves North Korea |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US activist Robert Park has been freed from detention in North Korea and is heading home to the US, officials say. | US activist Robert Park has been freed from detention in North Korea and is heading home to the US, officials say. |
| Mr Park left Pyongyang and arrived at the main airport in Beijing, China. A US embassy official said he was likely to travel to the US later on Saturday. | Mr Park left Pyongyang and arrived at the main airport in Beijing, China. A US embassy official said he was likely to travel to the US later on Saturday. |
| Mr Park, a religious activist, crossed into North Korea from China by walking over a frozen river on 25 December. | Mr Park, a religious activist, crossed into North Korea from China by walking over a frozen river on 25 December. |
| North Korean authorities said on Thursday they had decided to "forgive and release" Mr Park. | North Korean authorities said on Thursday they had decided to "forgive and release" Mr Park. |
| Mr Park was carrying a letter for the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, when he crossed the river. | Mr Park was carrying a letter for the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, when he crossed the river. |
| He had reportedly wanted to highlight human rights issues in North Korea, but was said before his release to have admitted his "mistake". | |
| Mr Park, a US citizen of Korean ancestry from Tucson, Arizon, entered North Korea on foot, walking across the frozen Tumen river. | Mr Park, a US citizen of Korean ancestry from Tucson, Arizon, entered North Korea on foot, walking across the frozen Tumen river. |
| According to his associates, 28-year-old Mr Park claimed he had seen a vision from God of North Korea's liberation and redemption. | According to his associates, 28-year-old Mr Park claimed he had seen a vision from God of North Korea's liberation and redemption. |
| On Friday Mr Park was reported to have confessed that he crossed the border because his view of North Korea was based on false Western propaganda. | On Friday Mr Park was reported to have confessed that he crossed the border because his view of North Korea was based on false Western propaganda. |
| He now fully realised that religious freedom is fully ensured in North Korea, the country's main news agency reported. | He now fully realised that religious freedom is fully ensured in North Korea, the country's main news agency reported. |
| However, the statement has been dismissed as "propaganda" by Mr Park's colleagues. | However, the statement has been dismissed as "propaganda" by Mr Park's colleagues. |
| In addition, analysts say his release could be seen as a goodwill gesture by the North's leader, reports the BBC's Michael Bristow in Beijing. | In addition, analysts say his release could be seen as a goodwill gesture by the North's leader, reports the BBC's Michael Bristow in Beijing. |
| The two countries have been negotiating on a range of issues, including the North's covert nuclear weapons programme. | The two countries have been negotiating on a range of issues, including the North's covert nuclear weapons programme. |
| Mr Park becomes the third US citizen released in recent months. | Mr Park becomes the third US citizen released in recent months. |
| In 2009, North Korea detained two US journalists on the border with China. | In 2009, 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. | 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. |