US says it takes seriously North Korean report of another American detained for illegal entry

US: Report of new detainee in N. Korea may be true

WASHINGTON — The State Department says it takes seriously a North Korean report that an American was detained Monday for illegally entering North Korea from China, though the U.S. has not confirmed it.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters Thursday that the U.S. has asked Sweden — which represents U.S. interests in North Korea — to inquire about the reported detention.

Crowley says the U.S. thinks it is “entirely possible” that the report is true.

North Korea said late last month that it was holding another U.S. citizen for illegally entering through the North Korea-China border. It did not identify the man, but Crowley said the man is Robert Park, an American missionary.