A U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea this weekend when he attempted to leave the country, according to multiple reports Sunday.
Tony Kim, a Korean-American who had spent a month teaching an accounting course at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, was arrested Saturday morning at Pyongyang International Airport, the university’s chancellor, Chan-Mo Park, told the Associated Press.
While it wasn’t immediately clear why Kim was detained, a statement from the university said the arrest was “related to an investigation into matters that are not connected in any way to PUST,” Reuters reported.
The U.S. has no formal diplomatic ties to North Korea, but the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang says it is aware of the situation, the AP reported.
Two other Americans are currently detained by North Korea: Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student; and Kim Dong-chul, a former resident of Virginia.
Warmbier was detained last year for allegedly trying to steal a propaganda sign from a Pyongyang hotel, was convicted in March of subversion and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. Kim Dong-chul was charged with spying in April of last year and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Previous American detainees held by the reclusive North Korean regime have been released following visits from high-profile Americans, like former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, the Washington Post notes.
Vice President Mike Pence personally viewed North Korea from the demilitarized zone also bordered by South Korea last weekend. Both he and Trump have called on China and other regional allies to pressure North Korea to end North Korean aggression.
North Korea attempted a missile launch last weekend that blew up almost immediately. The launch occurred one day following the 105th birthday of its country’s late founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea are on the rise. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and about two dozen missile tests in the last year.
