North Korea on Friday announced the arrest of a university student from OH for what it called a “hostile act” orchestrated by the American government to undermine the authoritarian nation.
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“Since the appearance of the word “hostility” in the world there has been no precedent of such deep-rooted, harsh and persistent policy as the hostile policy the USA has pursued toward the DPRK”, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
University of Virginia student Mr Warmbier was visiting North Korea on a package organised by China-based Young Pioneer Tours. It did not elaborate.
On Wednesday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said China has a “special role” to play in its “special relationship” with North Korea.
South Korea’s pointman on inter-Korean affairs made it clear Friday the government is not considering shutting down a joint industrial complex in North Korea or withdraw South Koreans from there despite the North’s nuclear test.
During a recent interview that the pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, gave to CNN in Pyongyang, the North presented another ethnic Korean prisoner, whom they said was a USA citizen arrested for spying in October.
North Korea, which is trying to promote tourism partly as a way to earn foreign currency, dramatically eased restrictions on American tourists in 2008, allowing for more Americans to visit at more times of the year. Many governments and experts remain highly skeptical about the North’s claim, but whatever device North Korea detonated will likely push the country a step closer toward its goal of manufacturing a miniaturized warhead to place on a missile that can threaten the US mainland.
“Seoul has been hesitant to stand publicly with the U.S.in building the capacity of the smaller countries (around China) in response to Beijing’s land-reclamation activities over disputed territories”.
Son is one of 15 North Koreans who have reportedly returned to the North since 2011, according to South Korean media.
Pyongyang has a history of using detainees as bargaining chips to extract concessions and high-profile visits to secure their release.
On January 6, right after North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, South Korea’s influential conservative newspaper Chosun Ilbo openly called for Chinese President Xi Jinping to press North Korea. China accounts for an overwhelming 90% of North Korea’s foreign trade. North Korea would likely respond angrily to any such meeting, and it is unlikely China, the North’s last major ally and biggest aid provider, and Russian Federation, also a traditional ally, would quickly embrace Park’s proposal.
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Matthew Miller, a tourist who ripped up his visa upon arrival in Pyongyang, and Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary, had both been serving multiyear sentences in North Korean labor camps.
