A Korean-American missionary who was held captive in North Korea for
six weeks last year, for illegal entry, said he was beaten up by border
guards and tortured by his interrogators, in “humiliating” experiences.
Robert Park, 28, walked over a frozen river into North Korea on
Christmas Day, shouting that he brought God’s love and carrying a letter
urging the totalitarian regime to relinquish power and free its
political prisoners.
He held a Bible and letters addressed to North
Korean leader Kim Jong Il, according to an Associated Press report in
The Washington Post.
North Korea released him in early February, saying he had admitted to committing a crime and had repented.
Park alleged he was beaten by the border guards who detained him and
that his North Korean interrogators tortured him. He said some of the
abuse was sexual in nature but refused to provide details.
“What happened was very humiliating. You know … there are damages
that are maybe permanent,” he said, calling the abuse “devastating.”
“I struggled with suicide a great deal since I left North Korea,” he
said. “I almost committed suicide. Thankfully my family and friends
helped me in America, and they placed me in a hospital.”
Nine months later - and back in the Korean Peninsula for a visit to
Seoul - Park said the confession and contrition were extracted with
force.
“My only regret is … the false confession,” Park told The Associated
Press in an interview in Seoul.
“People start to know how evil North
Korea was and they know the confession was a lie. They knew the
confession was false.”
SIC: CTH/ASIA