American in N.Korea denounces U.S., seeks Venezuela asylum – media

North Korea, Dec. 15 (NsNewsWire ) — A U.S. citizen who illegally entered North Korea delivered a lengthy denunciation of U.S. domestic and foreign policy on Sunday and said he was seeking political asylum in Venezuela, reports Reuters quoting the the North’s official media said.

The man identified himself as Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, from El Paso, Texas, in video footage of a press conference released by the North’s KCNA news agency. He said he had taken “a risky journey to reach the (North) so that I could pass along some very valuable and disturbing information”.

A KCNA article released with the footage said Martinez spoke of human rights violations committed by the U.S. government and its attempt at forcing imperialist influence and domination on other countries.

Reclusive and impoverished North Korea is under international sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes. It regularly threatens war on democratic South Korea and the South’s major ally, the United States.

U.S. State Department was aware of reports about a U.S. citizen crossing into North Korea, spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement on Sunday.

“We stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance. The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of our top priorities,” she said, adding the State Department strongly recommended against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea.