Kim Dong Chul (businessman)

This is a Korean name; the family name is Kim.
Kim Dong Chul
Born 1953 (age 62–63)
South Korea

Kim Dong Chul (born 1953, South Korea) is a South Korea-born businessman and alleged[1] naturalized United States citizen held prisoner by the government of North Korea (DPRK) on charges of espionage.[2] As of January 2016, Kim is one of only two US citizens held in North Korea, following the capture of Otto Frederick Warmbier.[3] Canadian Hyeon Soo Lim is also held in the country.[4] The three are thought to be the only Westerners held.[5]

Once a resident of Fairfax, Virginia,[6][7][8][9][10] Kim had been living in China with his wife, and owns a business in a special economic zone of the DPRK.[2]

Kim's status was not publicly known until the DPRK introduced him to a CNN crew visiting Pyongyang. CNN was allowed to interview Kim but only through an interpreter.[2] The US State Department has not confirmed the case.[11]

A North Korean defector claimed to have met Kim in 2007 and learned that he was doing aid work in North Korea.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "North Korea Says It’s Holding U.S. Student for ‘Hostile Act’". The New York Times. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016. This month, CNN broadcast an interview it had conducted at a Pyongyang hotel with Kim Dong-chul, 62, who claimed to be a naturalized American citizen. The North Korean authorities have accused him of spying for South Korea. The State Department has not commented on his case.
  2. 1 2 3 Tim Schwarz, Will Ripley and James Griffiths (11 January 2016). "North Korea reveals alleged U.S. prisoner to CNN - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "North Korea arrests US student for 'hostile act'". BBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Vigil held for GTA pastor trapped in North Korea". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Defector: Korean-American Detained in N. Korea Was Pastor". Voice of America. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Brian Murphy (25 March 2016). "North Korea displays detainee identified as American accused of spying". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "US man Kim Dong Chul 'admits stealing North Korea secrets'". BBC News. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Man Detained in North Korea Confesses to Spying for South". The New York Times. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Ripley, Will. "North Korean official: Korean-American confessed to espionage charges". CNN.com. CNN. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Kim, Jack; Pearson, James. "Korean-American in North Korea confesses to stealing secrets: media". Reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "American citizen Kim Dong Chul reportedly arrested by North Korea, accused of spying". CBS News. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
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