North Korea has confirmed that it arrested a U.S. citizen in November and that the man will soon be prosecuted on unspecified charges.
North Korea's official news agency reported on December 21 that the man, identified as Pae Jun-ho, entered the country as a tourist on November 3 and "committed a crime."
The agency reported that officials from the Swedish Embassy, which monitors U.S. interests in the country, visited Pae on December 21.
U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell confirmed on December 21 that a U.S. citizen was being held.
Human rights activists in South Korea have identified the man as 44-year-old Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American tour operator.
They say he was detained because a computer hard drive was found in his luggage.
North Korea's official news agency reported on December 21 that the man, identified as Pae Jun-ho, entered the country as a tourist on November 3 and "committed a crime."
The agency reported that officials from the Swedish Embassy, which monitors U.S. interests in the country, visited Pae on December 21.
U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell confirmed on December 21 that a U.S. citizen was being held.
Human rights activists in South Korea have identified the man as 44-year-old Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American tour operator.
They say he was detained because a computer hard drive was found in his luggage.