BYU STUDENT KIDNAPPED IN 2004?

[Robert F. Smith]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/01/long-missing-u-s-student-reportedly-kidnapped-in-china-in-04-forced-to-tutor-north-korean-dictator.html 

Was BYU student David Sneddon kidnapped in 2004 in China by agents of the North Korean regime?  He had served a mission in South Korea, and was presumably kidnapped in order to tutor the North Korean heir-apparent, Kim Jong Un. He is said to be currently living in Pyonyang, where he teaches English.  It is claimed that he is married and has two children.  Is any of this correct, and can it be corroborated?

[bluebell]

I just read an article about this. It's crazy!

[JAHS]

I remember when this happened. Here's a Deseret News article about it.

BYU student kidnapped in 2004 now teaching in North Korea

David Sneddon is believed to now have a wife and two children and lives in Pyongyang, where he teaches English, Yahoo Japan's report claims. According to the article, Kim Jong-un, the dictatorial leader of North Korea, is one of Sneddon's former students.

Sneddon's family also learned Wednesday that the U.S. Department of State is formally launching an active search for him in North Korea.

His parents have previously said they quickly grew skeptical of authorities' explanation that he likely drowned while hiking in the Yunnan Province in western China in 2004.

Among the reasons for their skepticism was that Sneddon's body was never recovered, they said. Their belief is that Sneddon, who was 24 at the time, was wanted by the North Korean regime for training purposes because of his fluency in Korean.

[The Nehor]

Possible but I would take it with a grain of salt unless evidence comes forth to back this up.

[Tacenda]

Watched this last night.

http://fox13now.com/2016/09/01/missionary-and-byu-student-missing-since-2004-may-be-in-north-korea/

I thought it showed a current video of him. I'll have to go back and watch again.

Edited September 2, 2016 by Tacenda

[Storm Rider]

At of now it appears the State Department is investigating the matter.  North Korea has a well-earned reputation of kidnapping foreigners in order to teach their intelligence agencies to speak other languages without NK accent.  It will be interesting to see how this evolves.  

In the situation of a Japanese national that had been kidnapped the NK government would allow the individual to return home, but not his wife and children.  

[Calm]

5 hours ago, Storm Rider said:

At of now it appears the State Department is investigating the matter.  North Korea has a well-earned reputation of kidnapping foreigners in order to teach their intelligence agencies to speak other languages without NK accent.  It will be interesting to see how this evolves.  

In the situation of a Japanese national that had been kidnapped the NK government would allow the individual to return home, but not his wife and children.  

I wonder if they push/set up the people to get married so they can first have them feel more comfortable/at home and then have that to pressure them to not leave and if they do leave, ensures they say nothing negative out of fear for the treatment of their family.

[Meadowchik]

My husband worked for Sneddon's brother at the time. He remembers when they left for China in search of him. The family is now looking for Congressional signatures to help get David out, and you can help by looking up their Facebook page and following the instructions.

[rodheadlee]

I thought if it was on Fox News it didn't happen? That's what you all told me when I quoted Fox news.

Edited September 14, 2016 by rodheadlee

[The Nehor]

On 9/13/2016 at 11:01 PM, rodheadlee said:

I thought if it was on Fox News it didn't happen? That's what you all told me when I quoted Fox news.

I would go with most likely it did not happen. Stopped clock right twice a day and all that.....  

[Calm]

Old article, Idon't remember the claim of Underground Railroad being mentioned in the current one, but that may be because I read it too quickly:

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=21575951

[sunstoned]

This CNN article details some of the history of the case.  But says there is no hard evidence evidence he living in North Korea.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/02/asia/david-sneddon-north-korea/