China Arrests Christian Aid Worker In North Korea Border Town

Chinese authorities reportedly arrested a Korean American Christian aid worker near the country's border with North Korea this week. 

Peter Hahn, 74, was arrested in the border town of Tumen on charges that he embezzled money and possessed falsified receipts. The Christian missionary has operated a vocational school for Chinese and Korean youth in the border town for the past several years.

Hahn's lawyer, Zhang Peihong, told the Associated Press that it remains unclear if his client was arrested due to his religious faith, which led to his calling in vocational work.

"I am not optimistic about the case's prospects now that he has been arrested," the lawyer said. "The charges clearly have no merit."

"The charges leveled against him are just excuses," Zhang added to Reuters.

Media outlets report that China's recent arrest of Hahn shows the country's tightening restrictions on religious expression, along with North Korea's strict censorship rules.

This is not Hahn's first run-in with Chinese authorities. The naturalized American citizen, who escaped North Korea several years ago, was detained by authorities back in November on the same charges of embezzlement and fake receipts.

Zhang recalled to the New York Times when he saw police stationed outside of his client's school in November.

"When I visited him in September, plainclothes police were stationed outside his building, and it was sealed," Mr. Zhang said.

Hahn's lawyer went on to say that although his client seems to be in good health, he is unsure if he'd stay healthy while in prison.

"His health was O.K., but if he's fit for detention, I'm not sure."