U.S. not yet confirmed detention of 2nd U.S. citizen in N. Korea: State Dept.

(ATTN: ADDS more details, background in paras 17-20)
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Thursday that it has not
yet confirmed a report that a second American citizen is being detained in North
Korea, in addition to a U.S. activist held there after sneaking across the
Chinese border on Christmas Day.
"We've asked our protecting power, Sweden, to inquire of the DPRK about this
report," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. "It's obviously
something we take seriously. At this point, we haven't got any specific
information to confirm that, but it is entirely possible."
DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea.
Washington does not have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, so the Swedish
mission handles consular affairs involving U.S. citizens in North Korea.
North Korea said earlier in the day that it detained an American citizen Monday
who illegally crossed the border with China, but offered no details.
"Right now we're operating on the assumption that it's entirely possible that we
have a second American citizen detained in North Korea in addition to Robert
Park," Crowley said.
Park, a Christian missionary from Tucson, Arizona, entered the North to call
attention to human rights conditions in the reclusive communist state --
designated by the U.S. as one of the worst rights violators in the world.
The 28-year-old Korean American reportedly said that he did not want to be freed
until North Korean leader Kim Jong-il releases all political prisoners, believed
to number in the hundreds of thousands, in several concentration camps.
The North has said an investigation is under way regarding an American citizen
who "illegally entered the DPRK through the DPRK-China border on Dec. 24,"
without naming the person, now known to be Park, who entered Dec. 25.
"On Mr. Park, we continue to seek consular access to him through our protecting
power in Pyongyang," Crowley said. "And like we say, if this report is verified,
we would seek the same access to a second American citizen, should that be the
case."
In August, former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim to
secure the release of two American journalists detained months earlier for
illegally entering the North via China while reporting on North Korean defectors.
The latest detention comes amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula as North
Korea has declared no-sail zones near the disputed Western sea border with South
Korea and has fired scores of artillery rounds into the zones, the scene of
bloody inter-Korean naval skirmishes on three occasions since 1999.
The provocations are seen as an apparent bid by the North to call attention to
the peace treaty proposal it has put forth as a precondition to its return to the
six-party nuclear talks.
The Koreas are technically still at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an
armistice.
The North has also called for the removal of the U.N. sanctions imposed after its
nuclear and missile tests early last year before resuming the nuclear talks.
Washington has said it is open to a discussion of a peace treaty and the lifting
of sanctions, but insists that Pyongyang return to the talks before any other
issues are addressed.
Crowley echoed that message.
"As to, you know, why they enter into provocative actions at one point, a
so-called charm offensive at another point, we don't know," he said. "We don't
know what they're thinking. We do know what they should be doing, which is to
return to the six-party process and -- and through the six-party process, there's
the potential to address and resolve any number of issues."
On the possible resumption of the search for the remains of missing American
soldiers in North Korea, the spokesman said, "From our standpoint we do have an
interest in resolving outstanding MIA cases."
"In the case of North Korea, it has expressed an interest in pursuing, you know,
a peace agreement," he said. "All of these things are possible, but first and
foremost we need to see North Korea back in the six-party process."
In his first State of the Union address Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama
called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions, warning of stronger
sanctions otherwise.
"These diplomatic efforts have also strengthened our hand in dealing with those
nations that insist on violating international agreements in pursuit of these
weapons," Obama said. "That is why North Korea now faces increased isolation and
stronger sanctions, sanctions that are being vigorously enforced."
hdh@yna.co.kr
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