(Vatican Radio) North Korea has reported the arrest of an American citizen there,
for carrying out an unspecified crime.
The man is identified as American Bae
Jun Ho, possibly Kenneth Bae, a 44-year-old naturalized US citizen who operates tours
to North Korea for tourists and potential investors. That's according to human rights
activists in South Korea.
North Korea's state news agency said Bae entered
the country through a seaport almost two months ago, then committed a crime, and confessed
to it.
The report gave no further details, but said the man had been allowed
to meet with diplomats from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, because there's no U.S.
mission there.
He's the fourth American known to have been arrested in North
Korea in the past three years.
Three of them were released when former U.S.
presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter flew to Pyongyang.
Some analysts believe
North Korea uses such cases to force Washington to talk.
North Korea recently
launched what it called a space rocket, despite UN Security Council restrictions on
such tests. US diplomats have reported talks underway with China, Russia and other
nations on possible punishment.