American detained in North Korea

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: cnn

(CNN) -- An American man has been detained in North Korea, two State Department officials told CNN.

The State Department is working with the Swedish Embassy in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, the officials said. The United States is urging North Korean authorities, through the Swedes, to release the man on humanitarian grounds.

Sweden represents America's interests in North Korea because the United States and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations.

The Swedes have been granted consular access to the man and have visited him, the officials said. The Swedes are asking for regular visits, the officials said.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/12/north.korea.american/index.html

[Jack Rabbit]

1. I guess Kim Jong Il wants to shake President Clinton's hand again

[WatsonT]

2. Poor guy

North Korea is a nightmare. Easily the worst regime on earth.

[David__77]

3. Did the man cross the border illegally.

Honestly, if so, he is lucky that they did not shoot him. I wish there were more details.

[Corruption Winz]

4. Interesting story..

Unfortunate for the guy. I hope that this isn't going to become some short of big deal that changes anyone's life dramatically. Here's hoping that all goes well.

[brooklynite]

5. How does this actually happened?

The DMZ has to be one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world - how does anyone amble across?

[Poll_Blind]

6. Almost certainly, he entered via China. There is a semi-famous place...

...(which I can't recall the name of, unfortunately) where most people can bribe their way into North Korea. Once they're in there, it's very dodgy whether they will be able to get out again but getting out again is not the biggest worry. Getting caught with some contraband item is a huge problem, since quite a bit of things which a Westerner might carry are contraband items in the prison of North Korea.

My instinct says this person was almost certainly there for one of two reasons: Either as a missionary or as a journalist (in some form or another) to document the living situation inside the country. There are other possibilities, of course, but those are the two big reasons why an American, specifically, would try to sneak into that particular lion's den.

PB

[jsamuel]

7. left out spy

[Poll_Blind]

8. I thought about that but for an American, specifically, I just can't see the odds of...

...that being very high. Although it's worth noting that the North Korean government pretty-much considers all foreign journalists to be spies of a sort, anyway.

PB

[Turbineguy]

9. Hmmm...... money-making idea!

:think:

Organize tours for Teabaggers to North Korea. Profit from cashing in the "return" part of their airplane ticket. :evilgrin: