North Korea to Release American

North Korea is set to release an American held since last November, state media reported after a US diplomat visited Pyongyang. The American envoy for human rights in North Korea, Robert King, headed to the country to examine its request that the US resume food aid, which Pyongyang halted in 2008. According to state media, King “expressed regret at the incident”—still unnamed—that resulted in the arrest of Eddie Jun of Los Angeles.

King said he'd work to "prevent the recurrence" of such an incident, the report said. But it would have been tough for the North to secure US aid when the country was holding an American citizen without giving a reason, reports the Wall Street Journal. (The AP notes that South Korean media reported that Jun was accused of spreading Christianity.) It’s not yet known when Jun will be released. Last week, a bipartisan team of senators wrote to Hillary Clinton to voice “concern” over the food aid request. The US can’t let Pyongyang “manipulate the issue of food aid, as it has done in the past, as a political weapon.” (More North Korea stories.)