Americans imprisoned by North Korea

RUSSIA
Yanbian
CHINA
Rason Special Economic Zone
NORTH KOREA
Pyongyang
Dandong
Yellow Sea (East Sea)
Seoul
SOUTH KOREA
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
JAPAN
100km 60 miles 


Kim Dong-chul

South Korea-born American pastor and businessman

Arrested in 2015, sentenced to 10 years hard labour on spying charges in 2016

At government-arranged press conference before trial, he apologized for trying to steal
military secrets in collusion with South Korea – claim rejected by Seoul

Interviewed by CNN in Jan 2016, Kim said he lived in Fairfax, Virginia, and once ran trading and hotel services company in Rason – special economic zone near border with Russia and China


Kim Sang-duk

Also known as Tony Kim. Held at Pyongyang airport in Apr 2017 as he tried to leave North
Korea after month teaching accounting at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST)

South Korean media said Kim was involved in humanitarian work in North

Studied and worked in U.S. as accountant for over 10 years, according to his Facebook page


Kim Hak-song

Described himself as Christian missionary who intended to start experimental farm at PUST

Arrested in May 2017 on suspicion of “hostile acts”, as he boarded train at Pyongyang
station headed for Chinese border town of Dandong

Ethnic Korean born just across North Korean border in China, Kim emigrated to U.S. in 1990s. Studied agriculture in Yanbian, China, before moving to Pyongyang


Sources: Reuters, BBC, AFP 
Pictures: Newscom, Associated Press 
© GRAPHIC NEWS