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North Korea: Detained Lynnwood man smuggled in propaganda

Ahn Young-joon
/
Associated Press

North Korea says a Korean-American man sentenced last week to 15 years' hard labor smuggled in unspecified inflammatory literature and tried to establish a base for anti-Pyongyang activities at a hotel in the border city of Rason.

The statement late Thursday from an unidentified Supreme Court spokesman provides the most in-depth look so far of Pyongyang's allegations against Kenneth Bae. But it is still short on specific details. Bae hasn't made a public statement.

Pyongyang sentenced the Washington state man for what it called hostile acts against the state.

The statement says Bae gave anti-Pyongyang lectures in China and brought about 250 students into Rason. It didn't elaborate.

Analysts say Pyongyang may be using Bae as bait to gain direct talks with Washington.

Pyongyang rejects such speculation.

 

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