American freed after N Korea food plea

AN AMERICAN citizen detained in North Korea on unspecified charges for six months has been released.

US rights envoy Robert King made the announcement yesterday following a visit to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, to assess its pleas for food aid.

North Korea's official news agency said King had left after a visit "to consult on humanitarian issues" and made no mention of the detainee, Jun Young Su. "We are very happy to report that Jun, the American citizen being held in Pyongyang, has been released. We are also delighted that, in a day or two, he will be back with his wife and family," King said.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Jun had arrived in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. "I have to go to the hospital now. Let's talk next time," it quoted him as saying.

Jun was arrested last November. The North Koreans claimed, during their investigations, he had admitted committing a crime "against the state". North Korea said he had been released on "humanitarian grounds".

Jun is believed to be a businessman from California who had been doing missionary work in the communist North.

King's five-day trip was the first official US visit to North Korea since 2009, and comes amid signs America is looking to revive multilateral talks on Korea's nuclear programme after a hiatus of more than two years.

King added: "While there, our team had three-and-a-half days and very serious and thoughtful talks with the foreign ministry.

"We were warmly welcomed. We were received at the highest level".

His visit came as North Korean leader Kim Jong-il wrapped up a secretive visit to China, his third to Asia's biggest economy in just over a year.