North Korea Says It Has Detained an American Tourist for Allegedly Committing Unspecified Crime

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An American tourist has been detained in North Korea for allegedly committing an unspecified crime, the country's official news agency reported Friday.

The Korean Central News Agency said that authorities were investigating the American for allegedly committing acts inconsistent with the purpose of a tourist visit. It did not give details

KCNA said the American went to North Korea on April 29.

The person would be the third American currently held in North Korea.

A North Korean soldier, right, looks at the south side through a pair of binoculars as a South Korean soldier, left, stands guard at the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

In April, North Korea said it had detained a 24-year-old American for improper behavior while he was being processed to enter the country as a tourist. He was identified as Miller Matthew Todd — possibly putting his surname first. It said he entered the country on April 10 with a tourist visa, but tore it up and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum. The brief report said he chose the North "as a shelter."

North Korea has been holding a Korean-American missionary, Kenneth Bae, since November 2012. Bae was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for what the North says were hostile acts against the state.

In March, North Korea deported an Australian missionary detained for spreading Christianity in the country after he apologized for anti-state religious acts and requested forgiveness.

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