International News: North Korea Detains Another US Tourist, Father of 3 Reportedly Held for Leaving Bible in His Hotel

American citizen Jeffrey Edward Fowle has reportedly been detained by the North Korean government, CNN reported.

State-run media outlet, Korean Central News Agency, announced Friday that North Korea had apprehended the tourist because he allegedly "perpetrated activities that violated the laws of our republic, which did not fit his stated purpose of visiting our republic as a tourist." Japanese news agency Kyodo later reported that that Fowle was about to leave the country with his tourist group in mid-May when he was detained for leaving behind a Bible at his hotel room.

According to The Dayton Daily News, Fowle is a 56-year-old municipal worker from Moraine City, Ohio. who hsa three children, "works for the city of Moraine [and] was just visiting the country as a tourist and was not on a church mission trip."

Moraine City Manager David Hicks also noted that Fowle was a longtime employee but could not comment on the situation without legal consent from the family.

Fowle is the third American reported to be detained by North Korea. The government announced that they were holding another American who had allegedly went to the country seeking asylum in April. The man, identified by the KCNA as Miller Matthew Todd, "came to the DPRK [North Korea] after choosing it as a shelter.

The country is also holding missionary Kenneth Bae. The Korean-American was sentenced to 15 years hard labor last year by the totalitarian regime that forbids independent religious practices.

Fowle's detention is likely motivated by the increasing tension between North Korea and the United States. The U.S. had been critical of the North's military practices and missile testing.

"These detentions of Americans are becoming a disturbing pattern by the North Koreans to create bargaining chips and get worldwide attention," said former New Mexican Gov. Bill Richardson, who has served as special envoy to the country.

The U.S. has been adamantly discouraging tourism of North Korea, but despite their efforts interest in the country as a tourist destination has grown.