North Korea has been detained there for more than two weeks and is being held on charges of a "gross violation of its legal order," the country's official Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday.The announcement was made late Friday, while President B.O. was in South Korea on a state visit.
The news agency said the American, identified as Miller Matthew Todd, 24, was being held for his "rash behavior" while passing through customs after his arrival in North Korea on April 10. According to the report, the American tore his tourist visa, shouting that he entered the North "after choosing it as a shelter."
"Our related agencies consider his behavior a serious matter and an investigation is underway," the news agency said.
It is unclear if the North Koreans were rendering the man's name in a Korean fashion, with the surname first. The country often delays its announcements of detentions, and it is possible that the news was timed to coincide with Mr. Obama's trip.
The report came just hours after the summit meeting between Mr. Obama and his South Korean counterpart, Park Geun-hye, in Seoul. The two leaders warned of the possibility of imposing more sanctions on the North amid signs that it might be preparing to conduct a fourth nuclear test.