[Acrogeokickic]

Asia
Home > Breaking News > Asia > Story
Feb 5, 2010

N.Korea to free US missionary

SEOUL - NORTH Korea said on Friday it would release a US missionary who crossed into the communist state last Christmas Day on a one-man human rights crusade. Robert Park had expressed 'sincere repentance' for his actions, the communist state's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without specifying where and when he would be freed. Park, 28 was held by border guards on Dec 25 after crossing the frozen border river from China in an attempt to publicise rights abuses. 'According to the results of the investigation, he trespassed on the border due to his wrong understanding of the DPRK (North Korea),' the news agency said.

The relevant organ of the DPRK decided to leniently forgive and release him, taking his admission and sincere repentance of his wrongdoings into consideration. The communist state has said it is also detaining an American detained for illegal entry from China on Jan 25. That person's motives and identity are unknown. KCNA carried an interview with Park, from Tucson in Arizona, who was quoted as saying he was taken in by 'false propaganda' spread by the West about rights abuses in the North. -- AFP