A South Korean war veteran holds up a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a rally against North Korea’s nuclear test in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016. North Korea trumpets a hydrogen bomb test. South Korea responds by cranking up blasts of harsh propaganda from giant green speakers aimed across the world’s most dangerous border. The placard reads “Anti-North Korea loudspeaker ? Leaflets ? Kim Jong Un is smiling!” (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
WASHINGTON (AP) — CNN is reporting that the government of North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen on suspicion of spying.
It says that a man it identified as Kim Dong Chul is being held by the Pyongyang government and that he had traveled extensively in recent years between China and North Korea and had made some trips to South Korea as well.
The network says North Korean authorities are maintaining that Kim had stolen state secrets and engaged in espionage.
In Washington, a State Department official refused to confirm the story.
The official said “speaking publicly about specific purported cases of detained Americans can complicate our tireless efforts to secure their freedom.” The official spoke only on grounds of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
CNN displayed Kim’s US passport.
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A South Korean war veteran holds up a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a rally against North Korea’s nuclear test in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016. North Korea trumpets a hydrogen bomb test. South Korea responds by cranking up blasts of harsh propaganda from giant green speakers aimed across the world’s most dangerous border. The placard reads “Anti-North Korea loudspeaker ? Leaflets ? Kim Jong Un is smiling!” (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) 
