MAVOCKE--The State Department has confirmed that a Grassadellian humanitarian worker has been detained in North Korea while on a humanitarian visit.
Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs Dawnelle Hunter-Garrett spoke at a press conference Friday, and confirmed that 63-year-old Charlotte Gibbons, of Rodditch, Damoign, has been detained by North Korean officials.
"I can confirm reports that Charlotte Gibbons was in North Korea on a humanitarian visit. She was with a group affiliated with the European Union, working to bring medicine and vaccinations to medical clinics in North Korea. Charlotte was detained, and remains in custody in Pyongyang," Hunter-Garrett said.
North Korean state news agency KCNA reported Gibbons was detained because she was suspected of "harbouring illegal drug activity in the DPRK."
Gibbons has not formally been prosecuted by North Korean officials, KCNA said. However, she remains in custody in Pyongyang, and has been visited by Danish Embassy officials.
"Miss Gibbons appeared to be in satisfactory health," Peter Zurk-Hanken, a Danish embassy official based in South Korea said.
Denmark handles disputes between Grassadellia and North Korea, as the two countries have no formal diplomatic relations.
Grassadellian intelligence officials do not believe Gibbons was smuggling illegal drugs into North Korea. They believe those allegations are phony, and that Gibbons' wrongful detention may be an act of retaliation, after the Grassadellian government criticized the North Korean regime following a rocket launch on December 12, 2012.
"We do not believe Charlotte Gibbons was involved in any criminal activity, and we urge her immediate release," Hunter-Garrett said at a Friday press conference. "We believe her detention is politically motivated, and any dispute between North Korea and Grassadellia should be handled professionally and without disrupting or endangering the lives of civilians of either party."
The State Department has said it is in contact with South Korean officials and Danish officials.
Charlotte Gibbons' family is hoping for an immediate release as well.
"We just want her to come home, soon. She is a good person and we know she was there helping people. We hope they will respect that and let her go," Gibbons' sister Sheila Evans told the STAR Network.
Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs Dawnelle Hunter-Garrett spoke at a press conference Friday, and confirmed that 63-year-old Charlotte Gibbons, of Rodditch, Damoign, has been detained by North Korean officials.
"I can confirm reports that Charlotte Gibbons was in North Korea on a humanitarian visit. She was with a group affiliated with the European Union, working to bring medicine and vaccinations to medical clinics in North Korea. Charlotte was detained, and remains in custody in Pyongyang," Hunter-Garrett said.
North Korean state news agency KCNA reported Gibbons was detained because she was suspected of "harbouring illegal drug activity in the DPRK."
Gibbons has not formally been prosecuted by North Korean officials, KCNA said. However, she remains in custody in Pyongyang, and has been visited by Danish Embassy officials.
"Miss Gibbons appeared to be in satisfactory health," Peter Zurk-Hanken, a Danish embassy official based in South Korea said.
Denmark handles disputes between Grassadellia and North Korea, as the two countries have no formal diplomatic relations.
Grassadellian intelligence officials do not believe Gibbons was smuggling illegal drugs into North Korea. They believe those allegations are phony, and that Gibbons' wrongful detention may be an act of retaliation, after the Grassadellian government criticized the North Korean regime following a rocket launch on December 12, 2012.
"We do not believe Charlotte Gibbons was involved in any criminal activity, and we urge her immediate release," Hunter-Garrett said at a Friday press conference. "We believe her detention is politically motivated, and any dispute between North Korea and Grassadellia should be handled professionally and without disrupting or endangering the lives of civilians of either party."
The State Department has said it is in contact with South Korean officials and Danish officials.
Charlotte Gibbons' family is hoping for an immediate release as well.
"We just want her to come home, soon. She is a good person and we know she was there helping people. We hope they will respect that and let her go," Gibbons' sister Sheila Evans told the STAR Network.
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