North Korea to Free US Missionary

Regime claims rights-activist Robert Park has repented
By Emily Rauhala,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 5, 2010 6:23 AM CST
North Korea to Free US Missionary
A South Korean man watches a TV news program about American missionary Robert Park.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

North Korea says it will free an American missionary who entered the country to protest human rights abuses. State media said the reclusive regime had decided to "leniently forgive" Robert Park, 28, for entering the country on Christmas day because he'd shown "sincere repentance," reports the Washington Post. Park walked into North Korea from China bearing letters condemning rights abuses.

North Korea also released a letter, attributed to Park, that describes the wonders of the closed kingdom. It reads: "Here, I'm in the lands where people respect human rights and, not just respecting human rights, they have actually loved me and showed me more than just human rights. They have shown me grace." No word when, exactly, he will be released.

(More China-North Korea border stories.)

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