North Korea Detain US Citizen For 'Acts Against The State'

A US citizen has been detained on suspicion of 'hostile acts' against the state, North Korea has said.

Kim Hak-song worked at the Pyongyang University Of Science And Technology (PUST) and was held on May 6 - according to the state-run news agency KCNA.

Hak-song becomes the second US citizen to be detained in recent times, and is the second worker from PUST to be imprisoned.

Kim Sang-fuck was a university lecturer who was detained in April for allegedly attempting to 'overturn' the government.

Credit: PA

Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old, was sentenced to 10 years hard labour for spying last year; while American student Otto Warmbier, aged 22, was given 15 years hard labour for trying to steal a propaganda sing from a hotel.

The US, in the past, has accused North Korea of detaining its citizens to use them as pawns.

KCNA said that a "relevant institution" was "conducting [a] detailed investigation" into Kim Hak-song's alleged crimes. No further details were given.

It's likely to be latest incident to heighten tensions between the United States and North Korea with both leaders, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, trading verbal blows over the past few weeks.

Credit: PA

American President recently described the North Korean dictator as a 'pretty smart cookie' last week but admitted that "we cannot let what's been going on for a long period of years continue."

Last month North Korea threated to 'wipe America off the face of the Earth', and soon conducted a live firing drill shortly after the US announced it had a submarine armed with missiles docked at a South Korean base.

On Friday, North Korea accused United States and South Korean agents of plotting to kill its Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. Neither the US or South Korea commented on the allegations, but experts were highly sceptical about the claim.

Russia and China have both moved troops to the North Korean border in preparation of helping refugees should a physical war emerge between America and the secretive state.

Credit: PA

The war, for now, is very much cold, and just a war-of-words. But, with the power of the nuclear weapons North Korea alleges to have, and America does have, it could be a nasty war if it does turn physical.

Source: USA Today

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: America, North Korea

Michael Minay

Mike Minay is a trending journalist at LADbible. He’s co-ordinated interviews with some of the big names from the world of news and sport including ITV’s Robert Peston, Sky Sports’ Jeff Stelling and darts champion Michael van Gerwen. His reporting days began on University radio in Birmingham, before moving to BBC Sport Online – creating content for large events such as Wimbledon and the FA Cup final. Mike still commentates on Football League matches at the weekend. A Manchester LAD at heart.

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