N. Korea Seizes U.S. Visitor; S. Korean Freed
An American who apparently was visiting North Korea on a business trip was arrested there last week and is being investigated for possible violations of law, the State Department said Friday.
The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which handles U.S. interests in North Korea, has asked for consular access to the American but it has not yet been granted, State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said.
Rubin said the American was in North Korea on a trip related to an effort to build a hospital and a garment manufacturing business. He was taken into custody June 17.
In a separate development, North Korea on Friday released a South Korean tourist accused of tempting North Koreans to defect in the first conciliatory move from Pyongyang since a naval clash between the two rivals last week.
South Korea said homemaker Min Young Mi, 36, was handed over to Hyundai Group officials at the entry point for tours to the North’s Kumgang Mountains organized by the conglomerate. She had been detained Sunday.
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