Published December 3, 2015 6:28pm EST
American who says he illegally crossed into North Korea says he's not being detained
Arturo Pierre Martinez, of El Paso, Texas, speaks during a press conference in Pyongyang, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. North Korea on Sunday presented to the media the American who says he illegally crossed into the country but has not been put into custody and is seeking asylum in Venezuela. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon) (The Associated Press)
Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, speaks at a press conference at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang, North Korea Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. North Korea on Sunday presented to the media the American who says he illegally crossed into the country but has not been held in custody and is seeking asylum in Venezuela. Martinez, of El Paso, Texas, said he entered North Korea by crossing the river border with China. Details of how and when he got into the country were not immediately clear. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon) (The Associated Press)
Arturo Pierre Martinez, rear center, speaks at a press conference at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang, North Korea Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. North Korea on Sunday presented to the media the American who says he illegally crossed into the country but has not been held in custody and is seeking asylum in Venezuela. Martinez, 29, of El Paso, Texas, said he entered North Korea by crossing the river border with China. Details of how and when he got into the country were not immediately clear. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin) (The Associated Press)
PYONGYANG, North Korea – North Korea has presented to the media an American who says he illegally crossed into the country but has not been held in custody. He also says he will seek asylum in Venezuela.
Arturo Pierre Martinez, of El Paso, Texas, told reporters in Pyongyang on Sunday he entered North Korea by crossing the river border with China. Further details were not immediately clear.
At the news conference, the 29-yar-old Martinez strongly criticized the U.S. for alleged human rights violations.
His comments raised questions of whether the news conference was staged for propaganda purposes. They come amid North Korea's own loud protests of a U.N. resolution that could open the door for its leaders to face charges of crimes against humanity for human rights violations.