This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/06/american-tourist-detained-north-korea

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
American tourist detained in North Korea American tourist held in North Korea brings US citizens in custody to three
(about 5 hours later)
A US tourist has been detained in North Korea for allegedly committing an unspecified crime, the country's official news agency has reported. North Korea has detained another US tourist for breaking its laws, its official news agency announced on Friday, bringing the number of American citizens in its custody to three.
The Korean Central News Agency said authorities were investigating the man for allegedly committing acts inconsistent with the purpose of a tourist visit. It did not give details The man, named by KCNA as Jeffrey Edward Fowle, was detained on 29 April. The terse news story said he was under investigation but did not explain why it had taken so long to reveal the news.
"American citizen Jeffrey Edward Fowle entered the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] as a tourist on 29 April and acted in violation of the DPRK law, contrary to the purpose of tourism during his stay," KCNA reported. Japanese news agency Kyodo, citing diplomatic sources, said an American was detained in mid-May as he was about to leave the country, for leaving a Bible in his hotel room.
In April, North Korea said it had detained a 24-year-old American for improper behaviour while he was entering the country as a tourist. He was identified as Miller Matthew Todd – possibly putting his surname first. It said he entered the country on 10 April with a tourist visa, but tore it up and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum. The brief report said he chose the North "as a shelter". The news comes two months after Pyongyang said it was holding 24-year-old Matthew Todd Miller for "a gross violation of its legal order". According to KCNA, he tore up his tourist visa and demanded asylum on arrival.
North Korea has been holding a Korean-American missionary, Kenneth Bae, since November 2012. Bae was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour for what the North says were hostile acts against the state. In May, Kenneth Bae, a US citizen born in South Korea, was sentenced to 15 years hard labour for seeking to topple the government. He has been held since entering the country on a tourist visa in November 2012. His family says he has multiple health problems.
North Korea has been pushing to promote tourism as part of efforts to earn badly needed foreign currency, but the country is also extremely sensitive about how visitors act while in the country. "It's hard to explain why they've suddenly been picking up so many people," said Jim Hoare, an expert on North Korea and former chargé d'affaires of the British embassy in Pyongyang. "They may be more vigilant, having had this run of people."
Friday's announcement came as tension on the Korean peninsula remained high with North Korea employing aggressive rhetoric against the US and South Korea following its series of missile and rocket launches earlier this year. The North's state media have also criticised US and South Korean leaders using sexist and racist language. It might also reflect a generally higher number of foreign visitors in recent years, he said.
The peninsula is still technically in a state of war because the 1950-53 Korean war ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are stationed in the South to deter potential aggression from North Korea. Analysts say Pyongyang sees US and South Korean citizens as potential bargaining chips in negotiations with those countries. It has previously released US citizens in exchange for high-profile visits, for instance when former US president Bill Clinton flew to Pyongyang to meet then leader Kim Jong-il to ensure the release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling in 2009.
The US and North Korea do not maintain diplomatic relations, but Sweden, which has an embassy in Pyongyang, oversees consular issues for the US there. A US state department official told AP that Washington was aware of reports that a third citizen had been detained in North Korea. "There is no greater priority for us than the welfare and safety of US citizens abroad," the official said, adding that no further information was available.
In March, North Korea deported an Australian missionary detained for spreading Christianity in the country after he apologised for anti-state religious acts and requested forgiveness. The state department last month warned Americans not to visit North Korea, even with valid visas, because of the risk of arbitrary arrest and detention.
"Foreign visitors to North Korea may be arrested, detained or expelled for activities that would not be considered criminal outside North Korea," it added.
The US does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, meaning that cases involving its citizens are handled by the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang.
Last year, 85-year-old Korean war veteran Merrill Newman was held for a month and allowed to leave only after being filmed "confessing" to alleged crimes, which he later said was done under duress.
Newman had been accused of war crimes after broaching the subject of the Korean war with his guide. He read out the statement apologising for his actions in the war after he was threatened with 15 years in jail, he said.
Earlier this year an Australian missionary, John Short, 75, was detained for 13 days for distributing Bible tracts in Pyongyang. He was deported after signing a detailed confession and apology.
But a South Korean missionary was last month sentenced to hard labour for life after being convicted on charges of spying and trying to set up underground churches.
"The fact he was South Korean was probably a factor [in the tougher sentence]. I think they would make an example of a South Korean," said Hoare.