American faces death penalty in North Korea
~~Choe Sang Hun, New York Times
~~Choe Sang Hun, New York Times
SEOUL: An American tour operator who crossed into North Korea from China last year is facing indictment on charges that he carried out hostile acts against the North's government, the Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday.
The tour operator, Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American who lived in Washington state, traveled with a group of businessmen in November from Yanji, China, to the North Korean special economic zone of Rason, where he was arrested.
His detention comes as American relations with North Korea have worsened considerably in recent months over the North's detonation of a nuclear device and missile testing.
North Korea has often used the plight of detained Americans as a bargaining chip in its dealings with Washington. In January, Bill Richardson, the former American ambassador to the United Nations, tried to see Bae but was rebuffed. Bae is the sixth American detained by North Korea since 2009, but he is facing the gravest charges.
During investigations, Bae "admitted his criminal plot to overthrow our republic out of hostility," the North Korean news agency said. It added that his crime was "clearly substantiated by evidence."
Under the North's criminal code, the maximum punishment for such a crime is the death penalty. Associated Press, which has a bureau in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, previously quoted a North Korean official as saying that Bae faced harsh punishment and possibly the death penalty over the accusations of trying to overthrow the government.
The North Korean news agency did not say when Bae's trial would be held. North Korea said the criminal investigation in the case was over. Under the criminal code of North Korea, prosecutors are required to file their formal indictment within 10 days of the completion of the investigation. Then a court rules on the case within 25 days.
The accused in the North have only a single chance to appeal their verdict. But North Korea indicated on Saturday that Bae would not be allowed such a chance because his case was handled directly by the country's supreme court.
In December, when North Korea officially confirmed Bae's detention, it said he was arrested on charges of committing "hostile acts" against North Korea, a lesser crime than a plot to "overthrow" the county. It said he had been allowed to meet with officials from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, which intervenes on Washington's behalf on issues involving American citizens in North Korea. Washington has no diplomatic ties with North Korea.
The tour operator, Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American who lived in Washington state, traveled with a group of businessmen in November from Yanji, China, to the North Korean special economic zone of Rason, where he was arrested.
His detention comes as American relations with North Korea have worsened considerably in recent months over the North's detonation of a nuclear device and missile testing.
North Korea has often used the plight of detained Americans as a bargaining chip in its dealings with Washington. In January, Bill Richardson, the former American ambassador to the United Nations, tried to see Bae but was rebuffed. Bae is the sixth American detained by North Korea since 2009, but he is facing the gravest charges.
During investigations, Bae "admitted his criminal plot to overthrow our republic out of hostility," the North Korean news agency said. It added that his crime was "clearly substantiated by evidence."
Under the North's criminal code, the maximum punishment for such a crime is the death penalty. Associated Press, which has a bureau in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, previously quoted a North Korean official as saying that Bae faced harsh punishment and possibly the death penalty over the accusations of trying to overthrow the government.
The North Korean news agency did not say when Bae's trial would be held. North Korea said the criminal investigation in the case was over. Under the criminal code of North Korea, prosecutors are required to file their formal indictment within 10 days of the completion of the investigation. Then a court rules on the case within 25 days.
The accused in the North have only a single chance to appeal their verdict. But North Korea indicated on Saturday that Bae would not be allowed such a chance because his case was handled directly by the country's supreme court.
In December, when North Korea officially confirmed Bae's detention, it said he was arrested on charges of committing "hostile acts" against North Korea, a lesser crime than a plot to "overthrow" the county. It said he had been allowed to meet with officials from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, which intervenes on Washington's behalf on issues involving American citizens in North Korea. Washington has no diplomatic ties with North Korea.
Courtesy: The Times of India
