US delegation leaves DPRK with released citizen

PYONGYANG - A US state department delegation left Pyongyang Saturday after a five-day visit to the Democratic People"s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The delegation was led by Robert King, US special envoy for DPRK human rights, and Jon Brause, US Agency for International Development (USAID) deputy assistant administrator for the office of foreign disaster assistance.

A US citizen named Eddie Jun Young Su, who was detained last November, was also on the plane heading back to the United States with the delegation.

The DPRK decided to "set him free from the humanitarian stand" after King expressed regret about the case, said the official KCNA news agency on Friday.

While visiting the DPRK this April, former US President Jimmy Carter had also asked Pyongyang to pardon Jun.

Jun has been under investigation after he was arrested on charges of anti-DPRK crime.

During his detention, the DPRK government allowed Jun to make regular contacts with the consul of the Swedish embassy representing the US interests in the DPRK and his family. Pyongyang also gave him medical treatment for health problems, according to the KCNA.

Arriving in Pyongyang on Tuesday, the US delegation is said to assess the food situation in the DPRK and to consult humanitarian issues.

However, there is no report on the delegation"s activities in the country.