North Korea says it has detained a 24-year-old American man for what it called improper behavior while he was being processed to enter the country as a tourist.
The official Korean Central News Agency identified the man as Miller Matthew Todd and said he entered the country on April 10 with a tourist visa, but tore it up and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum.
It said Todd was detained for "gross violation" of North Korea's legal order and is being investigated.
The announcement Friday came as President Barack Obama was visiting rival South Korea. Obama warned North Korea that it would face tougher sanctions if it follows through with threats to conduct a fourth nuclear test.
North Korea has been holding a Korean-American missionary, Kenneth Bae, since 2012.
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