US citizen Arturo Martinez criticising his homeland during a press conference in North Korea.

Seoul: A United States citizen who says he  entered North Korea illegally let fly at a news conference in the capital, Pyongyang, on Sunday with a lengthy criticism of United States policies and human rights conditions and said he would seek asylum in Venezuela.

The man identified himself as Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, from El Paso, Texas, and said he had entered North Korea by crossing Yalu River from China. A statement he read during the news conference was published by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency.

Mr Martinez  arrived in North Korea in November, two days after the US director of national intelligence, James R Clapper Jr, arrived in Pyongyang to seek the release of two Americans, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae, CNN said, citing a North Korean statement. Mr Miller and Mr Bae had been held in the North for "anti-state crimes" after entering the country on tourist visas and have been released.

Mr Martinez said he had tried earlier to swim across Han River into North Korea from South Korea. In September, the South Korean military said it had arrested an American in his 20s who was trying to swim to the North, but did not identify him. South Korean news media reported that the man told investigators he intended meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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Mr Martinez's mother, Patricia Eugenia Martinez, told CNN her son, who has bipolar disorder, was sent back to the United States from South Korea and was placed in a psychiatric hospital.  "He is very smart and he got the court to let him out, and instead of coming home to us he bought a ticket and left for China," Ms Martinez said.

The State Department's deputy spokeswoman, Marie Harf, said on Sunday: "We are aware of reports that a US citizen crossed into North Korea, and we stand ready to provide all consular assistance. The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of our top priorities."

During the Pyongyang news conference, Mr Martinez apologised for entering North Korea illegally "in such a foolish way". But he said he was extremely grateful for having been pardoned, indicating he was not facing criminal charges. He said he took a risky journey to North Korea so he could pass along some valuable and disturbing information.

New York Times