The notoriously secretive North Korea has allowed a CNN reporter to meet with a man who is being held prisoner by the North Korean government. The man claims to be a naturalized U.S. citizen.
CNN's Will Ripley shared details of his meeting in Pyongyang with Kim Dong Chul, who says he is formerly of Fairfax, Virginia. According to Ripley, Kim is accused of espionage -- which should be taken with a grain of salt.
"Kim's claims were made in the presence of North Korean officials and CNN cannot determine whether they were made under duress," Ripley adds.
US State Dept. won't comment on #NorthKorea's claim this accused spy is #American & stole nuclear/military secrets. pic.twitter.com/dVihdIDBA9— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) January 11, 2016
Kim admitted to Ripley that he "was tasked with taking photos of military secrets and 'scandalous' scenes" for South Korea since 2013, while living in Yanji, China, near the border with North Korea.
Kim says he was arrested in October 2015.
Yet some of Kim's statement sounds suspiciously like propaganda, something he denied when pressed by Ripley: "Seeing that this H-bomb test has succeeded, now is the time to abandon hostile policies and work to help North Korea. The U.S. needs to find a way to reconcile with North Korea. I think the main way to do that is with a peace treaty."
#CNN EXCLUSIVE Is this purported #American citizen a spy who stole nuclear & military secrets? #NorthKorea says yes. pic.twitter.com/F7XOusrXYY— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) January 11, 2016
The State Department wouldn't confirm the situation to CNN. A spokesman later declined to comment to reporters when asked about Kim.
State Dept spox Kirby on reports of American held in #NorthKorea: I'm not able to confirm the reports or to discuss the issue further.— Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam) January 11, 2016
Tensions in the region continue to increase following North Korea's claim last week that it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, though many in the international community have expressed skepticism about the veracity of the claim.
Still, that skepticism didn't stop the U.S. from flying a U.S. B-52 bomber over South Korea on Sunday a clear show of strength as well as alliance with South Korea.