An American teacher was detained in North Korea over the weekend, raising to four the number of U.S. citizens now being held by the communist nation's authoritarian regime.
According to report, Kim Hak-song had worked at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, the same school where American Tony Kim had worked prior to being arrested at Pyongyang International Airport two weeks ago, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said Sunday.
Few details on Kim Hak-song or his arrest were immediately available. KCNA said he was detained Saturday on suspicion of committing “hostile acts."
The country authority confirmed Wednesday that it has detained Tony Kim, who was seized April 22 as he tried to leave the country. Tony Kim, who taught accounting and other courses, is accused of attempting to overthrow the government.
"He was intercepted for committing criminal acts of hostility aimed to overturn the DPRK not only in the past but also during his last stay before
Other Americans being held in North Korea include Ohio native Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student who was arrested in January 2016 while he was on a tour of North Korea, and Kim Dong Chul, who was arrested in October 2015 while in North Korea on business.
Warmbier was accused of committing a "hostile act" for allegedly trying to steal a political banner and was sentenced in March 2016 to 15 years hard labor. Kim was accused of stealing military secrets and is serving a 10-year sentence.
Relations between the U.S. and North Korea have grown more strained in recent months as Pyongyang conducts nuclear and ballistic missile tests in defiance of international bans.
Kim Jong Un, North Korea leader has expressed outrage at massive joint military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea and an anti-missile battery the U.S. is installing in the region.
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