American Detained in NKorea 'Sorry for Spying'

Описание: (25 Mar 2016) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY
Pyongyang - March 25, 2016
1. Kim Tong Chol, a US citizen detained by North Korean authorities, walking into news conference while escorted by guards
2. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Kim Tong Chol, a US citizen detained by North Korean authorities:
"The really serious crime that I committed is that I carried out a plot against this country - aiming to eliminate its top authorities and bring about the collapse of its system - in conspiracy with the South Korean intelligence authorities."
3. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Kim Tong Chol, a US citizen detained by North Korean authorities:
"By donating money and goods, I was trying to make people here believe a fantasy about religion and the western world in order to wipe out their ideology of worshipping their leader."
4. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Kim Tong Chol, a US citizen detained by North Korean authorities:
"I would like to send a message to my family, which I love. I feel pain as I show myself here as a criminal who has committed a great crime, which is shameful and ineffaceable."
5. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Kim Tong Chol, a US citizen detained by North Korean authorities:
"I admit my crime. I again say that I am sorry. I really want to live righteously. I wish that you forgive me. If you are generous enough to forgive me, I determine seriously that I will wage a campaign to make the world know good things about this country."
6. Kim escorted out of news conference
STORYLINE:
A naturalized US citizen held in North Korea since October was presented to the media in Pyongyang on Friday.
State media identified the man as Kim Tong Chol - although his name is spelt Kim Dong Chul on his US passport.
In a statement to the media, the 62-year-old said he was detained on 2 October in Rason, a special economic zone in the far north-east of North Korea.
North Korea routinely arranges news conferences for detained foreigners, where they make admissions of guilt before any formal legal process.
Foreigners detained in the past said after their release that they were coached or coerced into making confessions or apologies.
At Friday's news conference, Kim asked for forgiveness for committing crimes in North Korea, including information-gathering for South Korea.
He said that he had tried to spread ideas of religion and the outside world among North Koreans.
Those ideas differ from North Korea's official ideology and are considered "anti-state" by North Korean authorities.
He also said that he tried to gather information to pass on to South Korean intelligence authorities.
North Korean officials have not said how they will handle Kim's case, and there has not been any official announcement regarding his legal options.
Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old from the US state of Ohio, was sentenced to 15 years hard labor on March 16th.
He confessed to the alleged theft of a political propaganda poster.
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