South Korean intelligence authorities have been able to reveal some further detailed information on the two American journalists detained by North Korea.
According to a South Korean intelligence source quoted in an article issued on the 23rd by the Joongang Ilbo, a daily paper in South Korea, “The two journalists are staying in a special villa under the control of the Defense Security Command (DSC) of the People’s Army near Pyongyang and are under interrogation. An organization with links to the U.S. has been asked to provide information through a cooperative channel in Seoul, and the information network has begun operating.”
The source is said to have relayed, “The two journalists passed the border in North Hamkyung Province and were arrested by sentries of the 27th Border Guard Brigade. They have been being examined by the DSC after being sent to Pyongyang.”
According to the explanation by the source, sending them to Pyongyang after only a day in custody implies that the North Korean authorities consider this a very serious case.
The information source also released that, “The emergency, that they had arrested American citizens, was immediately reported to the DSC, which supervises the border guard units. It was also reported to the headquarters of the 9th corps, which has jurisdiction over North Hamkyung Province. The two were sent to Pyongyang in the morning of the 18th after investigation by the special agents of the DSC. They were taken in separate cars, so as not to have contact with each other, escorted by armed vehicles.”
The DSC has responsibility for this case because it is in control of the border guard units.
The DSC will have closely examined their recordings, cameras, notes and other belongings in order to figure out whether or not they had obtained film of military or related facilities. After the DSC examination, they may be transferred to the National Security Agency, according to the source.
The South’s information authorities reported to the U.S. that North Korea may be focusing on attempting to obtain admissions of espionage. Espionage is a felony carrying a sentence of over 20 year’s detention under North Korean law.
The source explained, however, “The North Korea authorities will have restrained themselves from treating them harshly. They may be provided with American food, beds and other commodities. This is because the North intends to ensure they testify in a press conference that they were treated well from a humanitarian viewpoint when they get back to the U.S.”
