THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610070058
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA LENGTH: 42 lines
North Korea has charged an American with spying for South Korea, the communist state's official media reported Sunday.
Evan Carl Hunzike was arrested by North Korean security agents on Aug. 24, when he illegally entered the country, according to North's Korean Central News Agency.
Hunzike entered from China by crossing the Yalu River, which flows along the border between the two countries, the agency said.
``He admitted that he is a U.S. citizen and he illegally entered the DPRK (North Korea) for the purpose of getting information of its domestic situation,'' the agency said. ``He will have to take an appropriate penal responsibility under the DPRK criminal law.''
It said Hunzike was sent by South Korea's main intelligence agency. The report did not provide further details.
White House spokesman Mike McCurry said the U.S. is aware of the situation but has few details.
The United States and North Korea do not have diplomatic ties. North Korea still considers Washington an enemy for having led U.N. forces during the 1950-53 Korean War.
The South Korean spy office, the Agency for National Security Planning, denied its involvement.
Hunzike's arrest came at a time of increased tension on the divided peninsula that began last month, when a North Korean submarine was stranded on the South's east coast, triggering a deadly manhunt for communist agents.
South Korea claims the sub was on a mission to land spies on its territory. It believes 26 North Koreans came ashore; 22 were killed or found dead and one was captured. Four South Korean soldiers and a civilian also died. The manhunt continues for any crew members still at large.
North Korea claims the craft was on a routine training mission when engine trouble allowed it to drift onto South Korea's coast.
North Korea is demanding the return of the sub and its crew, including the dead. It reportedly wants to resolve the dispute through direct negotiations with Washington. by CNB