Korea of the North has us nationals detained in the past: Aijalon Gomes was held for seven months, the Korea of the North has confirmed that it has arrested an American citizen and is preparing to charge him with "a crime" against the country.Jun Young-su was arrested in November last year, the official press said KCNA Agency.
The US State Department announced the arrest Tuesday and calls for the release of the detainee for humanitarian reasons.
The United States do not have the names, but said that Swedish diplomats had visited him.
The Embassy of Sweden in Pyongyang takes care of American interests, because there are no diplomatic relations between the Northern Korea and the United States.
Tours of the formerKorea of the North did not specify the crimes for which the man had been charged.
But South Korean media suggested that it was a Korean American business man who could be involved in Christian missionary work.
Korea of the North sees religious activity organized as a potential challenge to the leadership.
He held a number of American citizens in recent years.
Former President Jimmy Carter was the release of American citizen detainees of the Korea of the front NorthIn 2010, fervent Christian Aijalon Gomes was sentenced to forced labour for eight years for the opening of the North Korea. He was released after seven months when former US President Jimmy Carter flew to Pyongyang for talks.
Two U.S. journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, took place several months after their arrest in 2009 for trespass on the border of the Korea in North of China. Former President Bill Clinton flew to Pyongyang to secure their release.
The news of the arrest of Mr. Jun comes ahead of another visit to Pyongyang by Mr. Carter.
He said he wants to discuss how to revive the impasse in the negotiations is to end the nuclear program of the Korea of the North.
Korea of the North has conducted two nuclear tests to date and tensions have been high on the Korean peninsula since the sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean warship.
The ship has decreased with the loss of 46 lives near the inter-Korean border disputed in March 2010. Seoul, said Pyongyang sank ship - Korea of North denies any role.
A North Korean artillery attack on an island in border in November which killed four South Koreans led relations deteriorate further.
Were Korea North to allow Mr. Jun to return home with Mr. Carter, critics see in a planned attempt by the Communist Government seems reasonable and if reliable political concessions and economic aidsays the BBC Nick Ravenscroft in Seoul.
