Agricultural specialist Kim Hak-song was working at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology but failed to arrive home in China as expected, his wife says
The wife of a U. S. citizen who was detained in North Korea over the weekend is appealing for his immediate release.
« I hope everybody joins in resolving this issue as soon as possible, » said Kim Mi Ok, the wife of agriculture researcher Kim Hak-song, who was arrested Saturday on suspicion of « hostile acts » against the North Korean government.
North Korea’s state-run news agency KCNA reported Sunday that « a relevant institution is now conducting detailed investigation » into Kim’s crimes, but provided no further details on his detention.
The arrest of Kim, who had been working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) , brings to four the number of U. S. citizens being detained in North Korea amid rising tensions over that country’s nuclear weapons development program.
PUST, which employs a substantial number of foreign staff, issued a statement saying, « We understand that this detention is related to an investigation into matters that are not connected in any way with the work of PUST. »
Speaking to the VOA Korean Service on Sunday, Kim Mi Ok said her husband was arrested as he tried to return to the couple’s home in Dandong, China. She said PUST told her over the phone that Kim had boarded a train in Pyongyang.
