US Citizen Detained In North Korea After Alleged Attempt To Fly Out Of Communist Country
North Korea has reportedly arrested a US citizen after alleged attempt to leave the communist country, according to the report of Yonhap news agency.
On Sunday (April 23, 2017), South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that a US citizen has been allegedly arrested after trying to leave North Korea. The US State Department was aware of the reports that a US citizen has been arrested, but there was still no official confirmation.
The US citizen will be third American to be detained in North Korea if the incident was proved to be true. It may also cause tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.
On Friday (April 21, 2017), the American who was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport was only identified by his surname Kim. The US citizen was arrested, while on his way out of the communist country.
Kim is at his late 50’s and had been engaged in aid programs for North Korea. He was also a former professor at China’s Yanbian University of Science and Technology. Yonhap news agency also reported that Kim was in North Korea for nearly a month to discuss relief activities.
“In cases where US citizens are reported to be detained in North Korea, we work with the Swedish embassy, which serves as the United States’ Protecting Power in North Korea. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment,” said by State Department official in Washington quoted by Inquirer.
The reason for Kim’s arrest was not yet clear and South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and foreign ministries could also not confirm the report.
In the past decade, the communist country has arrested and jailed US citizens, releasing them only after being visited by high-profile foreign officials.
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