The United States has confirmed that one of its citizens has been detained in North Korea, without revealing the American’s identity, citing privacy considerations.
“We can confirm that a US citizen has been detained in North Korea. The Embassy of Sweden, which is our protecting power in Pyongyang, has been granted consular access and is providing all appropriate consular assistance,” State Department Spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters yesterday.
Ventrell, however, did not reveal anything about the US national because of privacy considerations. “Because of privacy considerations, we can’t get into further detail. As you know, in situations where we don’t have diplomatic representation and these countries are our protecting powers, they go in and provide those consular services that we are unable to,” he said.
The State Department remarks came after the North Korea said that it has charged an American citizen detained there with committing “hostile acts against the republic.”
He faces years of imprisonment. The Korean Central News Agency identified him as Bae Jun-ho, who entered the country on November 3 through a port city near the Russian border.
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