American arrested in North Korea

(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.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn’s report: