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North Korea detains third U.S. citizen

By James Pearson

REUTERS

 

A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva October 2, 2014. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/Files

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea detained a U.S. citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country, bringing the total number of Americans held by the isolated country to three.

 

Korean-American Tony Kim had spent a month teaching an accounting course at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), the university's chancellor, Chan-Mo Park, told Reuters on Sunday.

 

The arrest took place on Saturday morning local time, a statement by the university said, and was "related to an investigation into matters that are not connected in any way to PUST".

 

Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk and is in his fifties, was detained by North Korean officials at Pyongyang International Airport as he attempted to leave the country, Park said.

 

"The cause of his arrest is not known but some officials at PUST told me his arrest was not related to his work at PUST. He had been involved with some other activities outside PUST such as helping an orphanage," Park said.

 

"I sincerely hope and pray that he will be released soon".

 

An official at South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was not aware of the reported arrest.

 

In Washington, the State Department said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea but had no further comment because of privacy considerations.

 

Kim is listed as an accounting professor on the website of PUST's sister institution in neighbouring China, the Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST). Calls to YUST were not answered.

 

PUST was founded by evangelical Christians and opened in 2010, with students generally the children of the country's elite.

 

Its volunteer faculty, many of whom are evangelical Christians, has a curriculum that includes subjects once considered taboo in North Korea, such as capitalism.

 

North Korea, which has been criticised for its human rights record, has in the past used detained Americans to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

 

North Korea was already holding two Americans.

 

Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old student, was detained in January last year and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour by a North Korean court for attempting to steal a propaganda banner.

 

In March 2016, Kim Dong Chul, a 62-year-old Korean-American missionary, was sentenced to 10 years hard labour for subversion. There have been no public appearances of either man since.

 

The reclusive state is also holding Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim. He was charged with subversion and given a hard labour life sentence in 2015.

 

Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labour for crimes against the state. He was released two years later.

 

(Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul, Yawen Chen in Beijing, Doina Chiacu in Washington; editing by Jason Neely/Grant McCool/Alexander Smith)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-24

[Emster23]

Any American stupid enough to travel to N Korea hasn't got the brains he or she was born with

[chingching]

9 hours ago, Emster23 said:

Any American stupid enough to travel to N Korea hasn't got the brains he or she was born with

What part of "evangelical christian" did you not understand?

[NickJ]

Leave him there.

[Andaman Al]

1 hour ago, chingching said:

What part of "evangelical christian" did you not understand?

What part of "hasn't got the brains he or she was born with" did you not understand.  

[gk10002000]

PUST was founded by evangelical Christians.  Nuff said.  Nothing against one religion or another, but preaching or espousing a lifestyle or dogma not supported in the country you are visiting is just looking for trouble.  Be a missionary if you want, try to aid and help others that you feel need help.  Good karma for you.  But you better be aware of the potential consequences to you and your family and friends.

[Andaman Al]

You see, in the days of the first real missionaries, although you faced the wrath of the locals as you do today, you never had the pesky customs and immigration people that were going to stop you getting the hell out of wherever you needed to. All the missionary and evangelical stuff in the danger areas of todays world is a complete and utter nonsense. Even an organisation sending people to make converts of citizens in countries where those converted would have themselves and three generations of their families sent to a concentration camp for doing so should face the toughest legal penalties in the countries in which they are based. It is utter folly and irresponsibility. In N Korea you could wipe out an entire family just by engaging people in a discussion about Jesus or religion.

Edited April 24, 2017 by Andaman Al

[baboon]

2 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

What part of "hasn't got the brains he or she was born with" did you not understand.  

Any American travelling to the DPRK and who stays quiet has nothing to worry about. Cause trouble and you are asking for it. They don't care where you are from - obey the rules which you surely know apply and all will be fine.

[ilostmypassword]

2 minutes ago, baboon said:

Any American travelling to the DPRK and who stays quiet has nothing to worry about. Cause trouble and you are asking for it. They don't care where you are from - obey the rules which you surely know apply and all will be fine.

This is being said about a country that actually kidnaps people from other nations and brings them there. Yes, it's an Orwellian nation that abides by the rule of law.

[baboon]

1 minute ago, ilostmypassword said:

This is being said about a country that actually kidnaps people from other nations and brings them there. Yes, it's an Orwellian nation that abides by the rule of law.

Correct; it is.

[Stargeezr]

Another fool from anywhere else in the world should just be smart and stay out of North Korea.  Well if Dennis wants to go back, okay fine. Fat boy is probably ready to watch basketball with him again, or just look at his tattoos.

Geezer

 

[Dumbastheycome]

On 4/24/2017 at 5:34 PM, chingching said:

What part of "evangelical christian" did you not understand?

The  "eva"   bit.