SEOUL: North Korea said today it had detained an American for illegally entering its territory, the second time in a month it has reported such a case.

The communist state’s official news agency said the man was held on Monday after crossing from China but did not identify him or give any details.

“An American was detained for trespassing on the border of the DPRK (North Korea) with China on January 25,” the agency said in a one-sentence report. “He is now under investigation by an organ concerned.” In Washington, a US State Department spokesman said he had no knowledge of the case. South Korea’s foreign ministry also said it knew nothing.