North Korea says it is holding American tourist for unspecified violations

In a two-sentence statement, the North’s state-run news agency said a U.S. citizen it identified as Jeffrey Edward Fowle had entered the country April 29 and acted “contrary to the purpose of tourism.”

“A relevant organ of the DPRK detained him and is investigating him,” the North said, using the initials of the country’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.