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12/26/2024 11:46:23 pm

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U.S. Tourist Detained in North Korea for Unspecified Crimes

Kenneth

U.S. Citizen Kenneth Bae was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor on April 2013 for acts against the North Korean government.

An American tourist was detained by North Korean authorities for unspecified crimes, according to Washington Post.

The tourist was identified as Jeffrey Edward Fowle. According to state-run media, Korean Central News Agency, Fowle - who entered North Korea with a tourist visa on April 29 - is being investigated because his actions did not correspond to that of a tourist's.

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No other details were mentioned. However, a news agency in Japan reported that Fowle had entered the country as part of a tour group and was arrested by North Korean authorities after leaving a Bible in his hotel, CNN has learned.

The U.S. said it is aware of Fowle's detainment and that they are coordinating closely with the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang regarding the matter.

The U.S. does not maintain diplomatic ties with North Korea so it courses its coordination thru Sweden.

The U.S. State Department did not reveal further information, stating that it couldn't release details of a case without the individual's consent.

Fowle is the third American currently detained in the North.

Last month, Matthew Todd Miller was arrested by officials after allegedly tearing up his tourist visa and shouting that he wanted to seek asylum with the country. Another American, Kenneth Bae, was arrested and charged for crimes against the North Korean government. He is currently serving 15 years of hard labor as punishment.

To protect its interests, the U.S. government had released a travel update last month discouraging its citizens from going to North Korea. It cautioned against random arrests, imprisonment and conviction of crimes otherwise not considered illegal outside North Korea, Washington Post reported.

Moreover, it warned that being part of a tour group would most probably not deter North Korean authorities from arresting tourists.  

At least 9 Americans have been detained in North Korea over the past 6 years, allegedly using them to get visits from prominent personalities such as Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

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