North Korea to release US citizen held for six months
May 27th, 2011 - 9:53 pm ICT by IANSLondon, May 27 (IANS) North Korea has said it would releasing an American citizen it has been holding for six months on unspecified charges, BBC reported.
Eddie Jun Yong-su would be freed on humanitarian grounds following repeated requests by visiting US officials, according to the KCNA state news agency.
South Korean media said the Korean-American was involved in Christian missionary work.
The North Korean news agency said Jun was being released for humanitarian reasons, after three separate US-led delegations to Pyongyang asked for forgiveness.
Jun was accused of committing a “grave crime”, one that he himself had frankly admitted to, the report said.
It is believed he may have been carrying out missionary work while visiting the Communist country on business trips.
Jun was well-treated during his time in custody, and was allowed diplomatic contact, as well as family phone calls and hospital treatment, it said.
It was, however, not clear when he would be released.
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