North Korea detains another American, 3 days after latest arrest

North Korea on Sunday said it detained another American citizen over unspecified hostile acts against the country.

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said Kim Hak-song, an employee of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, was detained Saturday.

• North Korea says American captive planned 'hostile acts'
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North Korea on Wednesday announced the detention of an accounting instructor at the same university, Kim Sang-dok, for "acts of hostility aimed to overturn" the country. The KCNA didn't say whether the two cases are connected.

"A relevant institution is now conducting detailed investigation into his crimes," the KCNA said about Kim Hak-song.

Kim Hak-song is among at least four Americans being detained in North Korea. The others are Otto Warmbier, serving a 15-year prison term with hard labour for alleged anti-state acts, and Kim Dong-chul, serving a 10-year term with hard labour for alleged espionage.

Kim Sang-dok, the former accounting instructor at the Pyongyang university, was arrested at the Pyongyang International Airport on April 22, the KCNA said. It said he was "intercepted for committing criminal acts" to overthrow the North's government, but didn't elaborate.

The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is the only privately funded university in North Korea and is unique for having a large number of foreign staff.

Detainments come amid U.S. tensions

Washington, Seoul and others often accuse North Korea of using foreign detainees to wrest diplomatic concessions, which in recent years have involved high-profile American missions sent to secure the release of the Americans.

• North Korea accuses U.S., South Korea of assassination attempt

North Korea's announcement of the detainments comes amid tensions over fears that Pyongyang is preparing another round of nuclear or missile tests and comments. U.S. President Donald Trump has further spiked animosity by saying he isn't ruling out military action against the North, although Trump has also said he would be willing to talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un under the right circumstances.

North Korea on Friday accused the U.S. and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong-un involving biochemical weapons.