Podcast
Missionary returns to US from DPRK
Updated: 2010-02-08 13:25
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An American missionary who strode illegally into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Christmas Day and was detained by the authorities for 43 days was welcomed back to the United States in an emotional reunion with family members at Los Angeles International Airport.
Robert Park was greeted by his parents and brother in a private location at the airport after arriving on Saturday evening on a commercial flight from Beijing.
Earlier on Saturday, the 28-year-old Korean-American from Tucson, Arizona, flew to the Chinese capital from Pyongyang.
The family stopped briefly as they left the airport in their car. A thin and pale Park wouldn't speak and kept his eyes downcast while his brother, Paul Park, told reporters that he's in good condition.
"Hugging him, there didn't seem to be anything broken," he said.
Robert Park crossed the frozen Tumen River from China into the DPRK on Dec 25, carrying letters to leader Kim Jong-il.
The family didn't know Robert Park had planned to cross into the DPRK until about 14 hours before he did it, Paul Park said. He said they were informed of the plan during an international phone call. He didn't specify any further.
"I have to admit, I didn't believe it until I saw it on the international news," Paul Park said of his brother's crossing into North Korea. "To say that the family wasn't prepared would be putting it mildly."
Pyongyang announced on Friday that Park would be freed.
The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency quoted Park as saying he was ashamed of the "biased" view he once held of the country.
Park said he was now convinced "there's complete religious freedom for all people everywhere" in the country, citing the return of the Bible he carried as he entered the country and a service he attended at Pongsu Church in Pyongyang, KCNA said.
"I would not have committed such crime if I had known that the (North) respects the rights of all the people and guarantees their freedom and they enjoy a happy and stable life,"it quoted him as saying.
Park didn't respond to questions from reporters when he arrived in Beijing about whether he had been speaking freely or under duress.
North Korea's constitution guarantees freedom of religion. KCNA said Park told the news agency he felt compelled to go to North Korea to draw attention to reported rights abuses and mass killings, even if it meant risking his life.
Friends and family were startled and thrilled by the sudden release of Park, who was once described by his pastor as "unusually serious" when it came to religion.
Paul Park said he was completely speechless when he first spotted his brother walking off the plane. He said Robert Park cried during the encounter.
The family planned to feed him spaghetti for dinner - his favorite meal growing up.
（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
