North Korea: Pyongyang confirms U.S. citizen arrested
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 December 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, North Korea: Pyongyang confirms U.S. citizen arrested, 22 December 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50ed342d18.html [accessed 20 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 22, 2012
North Korea has confirmed that it arrested a U.S. citizen in November and that the man will soon be prosecuted on unspecified charges.
North Korea's official news agency reported on December 21 that the man, identified as Pae Jun-ho, entered the country as a tourist on November 3 and "committed a crime."
The agency reported that officials from the Swedish Embassy, which monitors U.S. interests in the country, visited Pae on December 21.
U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell confirmed on December 21 that a U.S. citizen was being held.
Human rights activists in South Korea have identified the man as 44-year-old Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American tour operator.
They say he was detained because a computer hard drive was found in his luggage.
Based on reporting by "The New York Times," AFP, and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
