Renegade sneaks into North Korea to attack US policy
Rogue state showcases runaway Texan who risked illegal entry for chance to denounce 'imperialist America's human rights violations'
An American who illegally entered North Korea is now seeking political asylum after denouncing US domestic and foreign policy yesterday.
The man - named as Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, from El Paso, Texas - said he had taken "a risky journey to reach the (North) so that I could pass along some very valuable and disturbing information" in video footage of a press conference released by the North's KCNA news agency.
Martinez spoke of human rights violations committed by the US government and its attempt at forcing imperialist influence and domination on other countries, KCNA said in an article released with the footage.
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 United States.
The press conference came days after Sung Kim, US special representative for North Korea policy, said Washington was ready for direct dialogue with the rogue state as part of efforts to resume negotiations towards dismantling its nuclear programme.