Asia-Pacific

US confirms Carter in DPRK for release of US citizen

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-26 04:45

WASHINGTON - The United States State Department confirmed Wednesday that former US President Jimmy Carter was in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to secure the release of an imprisoned US citizen.

Related readings:  Former US president Carter arrives in Pyongyang  Jimmy Carter to visit DPRK to free American prisoner  US refuses to comment Carter's reported visit to Pyongyang  Carter to visit DPRK for release of US man

Carter arrived in Pyongyang, the capital of DPRK, on Wednesday aboard a civilian jet and met Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of DPRK.

Carter's visit to Pyongyang is aimed to negotiate the release of Aijalon Mahli Gomes who was detained by the DPRK on January 25, 2010 for entering the country illegally. On April 6, Gomes was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment and a fine of about?$700,000.