In God We Trust
Many Americans were held prisoner of war during the open hostilities of the Korean War. However, the detention of American prisoners did not end with the cease fire. Since 1955 numerous Americans have been held and released as prisoners in North Korea. Below is information about those that were held and released.
There were also some U.S. citizens who were captured prior to, during, and after the Korean War and were released after 1963. Those captives (there are probably more that are not show here) are listed as well. Although they might not have a connection to the Korean War per se, prisoners in captivity were often moved from one communist state to another.
08/17/1955 – 8/23/1955
Shot down by North Koreans while piloting LT-6G #49-3558. The observer, Capt. Charles W. Brown, was killed.
02/16/1958 – 03/1958
North Korean agents hijacked a South Korean DC-3 airliner enroute from Pusan to Seoul and took the plane to Pyongyang. Hobbs was the U.S. civilian pilot of the plane.
02/16/1958 – 03/1958
North Korean agents hijacked a South Korean airliner enroute from Pusan to Seoul and took the plane to Pyongyang. USAF Lieutenant McClelland was the plane’s American copilot, logging additional flying hours with permission from the Air Force.
03/06/1958 – 03/17/1958
Pfeiffer’s F-86F Sabre crossed into North Korean territory and was shot down in an F-86F by enemy North Korean Ground Forces hostile to the United States over the Korean Demilitarized Zone while on a simulated close air support mission with the United Nations Forces. Pfeiffer died August 09, 2022 in Falls Church, Virginia, at the age of 92.
05/17/1963 – 05/16/1964
Held for espionage after his OH-23 helicopter was shot down over North Korean territory during a routine mission. "The two pilots were in uniform and engaged in an assigned military mission, specifically that of checking aircraft warning markers south of the demilitarized zone, and therefore were clearly not engaged in sabotage,” said Col. George R. Creel, chief information officer for the United Nations Command and the United States Eighth Army.
05/17/1963 – 05/16/1964
Held for espionage after his OH-23 helicopter was shot down over North Korean territory during a routine mission. "The two pilots were in uniform and engaged in an assigned military mission, specifically that of checking aircraft warning markers south of the demilitarized zone, and therefore were clearly not engaged in sabotage,” said Col. George R. Creel, chief information officer for the United Nations Command and the United States Eighth Army
08/17/1969 – 12/03/1969
Captain Crawford’s unarmed US Army OH-23 Raven helicopter was shot down over the North Korean DMZ. While on a basic training million the pilot radioed that he was disoriented prior to the shoot-down. He was held captive for 198 days. He was beaten with rifle butts upon capture and beaten daily thereafter.
08/17/1969 – 12/03/1969
SP4 Hofstatter’s unarmed US Army OH-23 Raven helicopter was shot down over the North Korean DMZ. He was held captive for 108 days. He was shot in the legs upon capture and beaten daily.
08/17/1969 – 12/03/1969
Warrant Officer Loepke was held captive for 108 days after his unarmed OH-23 Raven helicopter was shot down over the North Korean DMZ. He was wounded and beaten daily.
07/14/1977 – 07/17/1977
CH-47 Chinook 67-18498 was shot down over the DMZ. Murdered by North Koreans were CWO Joseph A. Miles (pilot), Sgt. Robert C. Haynes and Sgt. Ronald E. Wells. The men were from the 213th AVN Company’s Black Cats. CWO Schwanke survived the attack.
12/17/1994 – 12/30/1994
Hall was on a training mission with co-pilot David Hilemon when their OH-58 scout helicopter was shot down over the DMZ. The plane had veered off course. Hilemon was thrown from the cockpit and died at the scene.
08/24/1996 – 11/27/1996
Charged with illegally entering North Korea after swimming across the Yalu River from China to North Korea. A troubled young man, Hunziker died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound on December 18, 1996.
06/17/1999 – 07/20/1999
While on a humanitarian mission to North Korea, she was arrested for insulting local officials.
08/14/2004 – Unknown
[KWE Note: Whereabouts unknown. See the KWE Topics page: "Where is David Sneddon?"] Some reports state that he died in China, and some say he died in North Korea. Some say he lives in Pyongyang, is married, and goes by the Korean name Yoon Bong Soo. There are no firm answers.
03/17/2009 – 08/04/2009
Lee was news editor of Current TV based in San Francisco, California. She and a reporter from Current TV were arrested for illegally crossing into North Korean territory while filming on Northeastern China’s border. The reporters and the North Koreans had differing stories. The reporters claimed they were knocked unconscious and dragged into North Korea. The North Koreans claimed the women were producing a documentary slandering the DPRK.
03/17/2009 – 08/04/2009
Lung was a reporter for Current TV based in San Francisco. Her story is the same as that of fellow prisoner Euna Lee.
12/25/2009 – 02/06/2010
Park, a Korean-American evangelical activist was accused of illegally entering North Korea to urge Kim Jong-il to close prison labor camps, free all prisoners, and resign. He claimed that he was beaten, tortured, and had to endure sexual abuse.
01/25/2010 – 08/26/2010
Sentenced to eight years of hard labor and a fine of $700,000 for illegally crossing into North Korea. Gomes was a teacher in South Korea who was believed to have crossed into North Korea in support of prisoner Robert Park.
11/01/2010 – 05/28/2011
Jun was a Korean-American businessman accused of committing an unspecified crime in North Korea.
11/2012 – 11/08/2014
A missionary and father of three, Bae was arrested while leading an officially-permitted tour from China. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor after North Koreans discovered that the underlying motive of his trip to North Korea was missionary work. He was freed along with Matthew Todd Miller.
10/26/2013 – 12/07/2013
A Korean War veteran, he was a tourist in North Korea when he made the mistake of stating that he would like to meet with relatives of anti-Communist guerillas he had trained during the war. He was arrested at the airport and detained.
04/10/2014 – 11/08/2014
He was held prisoner of "acts hostile to the DPRK while entering under the guise of a tourist." He was in North Korea via a Uri Tour, but indications are that he wanted to be arrested. He was sentenced to six years hard labor.
05/04/2014 – 10/21/2014
The 56-year old municipal worker from Ohio was charged with proselytizing his Christian faith by leaving a Bible in his hotel room.
11/10/2014 – 12/2014
Mr. Martinez tried to swim across the Yalu River into North Korea but was detained. He was critical of the United States in a news conference held in Pyongyang before he was pardoned and released. His mother said he was bipolar. Martinez stated that he planned to seek asylum in Venezuela.
04/08/2015 – 04/08/2015
Deported for "covertly producing photos & videos to use in an anti-DPRK smear campaign".
08/13/2015 – 10/2015
Illegal entry into North Korea. Previously sought legal, long-term residence there.
10/2015 – 05/2018
An American businessman sentenced to 10 years hard labor in prison after being convicted of espionage. He was the president of a trade and hospitality company. Prior to his arrest he taught a class in international finance and management at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.
01/02/2016 – 06/13/2017
He was charged of committing "hostile acts" against the DPRK by allegedly stealing a propaganda poster from his hotel. He died six days after being released into U.S. custody. His is a tragic story. Read it here.
04/2017 – 05/2018
A teacher of accounting for one month at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, he was detained at Pyongyang airport after being accused of unspecified "hostile acts" against the North Korean government. It has been suggested that he was arrested for actions associated with his volunteer work at an orphanage. North Korea had a ban on proselytizing--considered to be a crime against the state.
05/06/2017 – 05/2018
A self-proclaimed Christian missionary, he managed an experimental farm at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology before he was arrested on a China-bound train on suspicion of "hostile acts".
10/16/2018 – 11/16/2018
Charged with illegally entering North Korea vis China and for working for the CIA.
07/18/2023 – 09/27/2023
A member of 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, King was said to have crossed into North Korea "willfully and without authorization".