The latest detention of a U.S. citizen by North Korea, which raises the number of Americans in their custody to four, is "concerning," a White House spokesman said, amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. Kim Hak Song, who worked for the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, was detained on Saturday on suspicion of "hostile acts" against the state, North Korea's official KCNA news agency said. An official of the U.S. State Department said the detentions underscored "the risk associated with travel to North Korea." "The Department of State strongly recommends against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea," the official added. Trump warned in an interview with Reuters this month a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible, but then raised eyebrows by saying he would be "honored" to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un under the right circumstances.

Source: The Star May 08, 2017 23:03 UTC