North Korea admits detaining a US tourist who demanded asylum

North Korea said on Friday it had detained a 24-year-old American this month who demanded asylum after arriving in the country on a tourist visa in "a gross violation of its legal order."

The announcement was made while U.S. President Barack Obama was visiting South Korea, one of Washington's closest allies and still technically at war with Pyongyang.

"A relevant organ of the DPRK put in custody American Miller Matthew Todd, 24, on April 10 for his rash behaviour in the course of going through formalities for entry into the DPRK to tour it," North Korea's KCNA news agency said, using the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

KCNA said the detained man had a tourist visa for the DPRK, but tore it to pieces and shouted that he had come "to the DPRK after choosing it as a shelter."

The U.S. State Department said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen had been detained in North Korea and it was in touch with the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang on the issue.