US Citizen to be Tried By North Korea for Illegal Entry
A US citizen, Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, who had entered North Korea illegally, will be tried by the North Korean government.
Korean Central News Agency claimed that the man was from Boston. It said his crime has been confirmed and now he would be indicted. However, the report had no details of the charges against him. Earlier, on January 25, North Korean government had detained an unidentified American for illegal entry and now it was confirmed.
Last week, the State Department had allowed a Swedish diplomat to see the detainee in Pyongyang. Though, United States has no high commission in Pyongyang but the Swedish embassy represents US interests. Experts feel that Gomes will be expelled as a goodwill gesture.
Washington and Pyongyang are on talks on a permanent peace pact.
Pyongyang wants the US to help in lifting of United Nations sanctions, as both parties try for a six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.
It is not the 1st instance. North Korea had freed US missionary Robert Park, who came into the country last Christmas Day in possession of a letter which said that leader Kim Jong-Il should quit.
North Korea’s official news agency had quoted Park that he was misled by Western propaganda. However, he has had little to say since returning to the States on February 6. He has in fact canceled scheduled press conferences twice.
Last year, in March the communist state detained two female TV journalists from US for illegal entry. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor but later pardoned as a goodwill gesture when former US president Bill Clinton flew to Pyongyang last August.
Now, the North has started to extend the olive branch after months of hostility. They have sent peace feelers to the United States and South Korea when the journalists were freed.
The North, however, has done nothing in the case of the four South Koreans who were detained for illegal entry and the case is still under investigation.
