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American Christian activist arrested in North Korea

North Korean authorities say they have arrested an American man who crossed into their territory, reports Jeremy Reynalds, correspondent for ASSIST News Service.

According to the BBC, the North's official KCNA news agency said the man had entered the country from China on Dec. 24. There is no official word on his identity.

However there have been reports that Robert Park, a US Christian activist, recently crossed into North Korea.

The BBC reported colleagues say he wanted to highlight the country's human rights record and demand the release of prisoners.

“On December 24, a US citizen illegally entered the country across the North Korea-China border and has been detained. The person is currently undergoing questioning by a related agency,” the BBC said KCNA news agency reported.

Associates of Park reported that he had walked into North Korea from China across the frozen Tumen River on Dec. 25.

The BBC said Park, a US citizen of Korean ancestry from Tucson, AZ, claimed he had seen a vision from God of North Korea's liberation and redemption, his colleagues said.

They said he walked across the border shouting, “I am an American citizen. I brought God's love. God loves you and God bless you.”

According to the BBC, South Korean activists supporting Park say he carried a letter urging the North's leader, Kim Jong-Il, to free political prisoners and improve human rights in the communist state.

Earlier this year North Korea detained two U.S. journalists on the border with China.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years hard labor, but were freed as part of a diplomatic mission spearheaded by former President Bill Clinton in Aug. after four months in captivity.

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TAGS: North Korea USA American Christian activist Robert Park human rights political prisoners

[12/31/2009]

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