SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ A Korean-American missionary held captive in North Korea for six weeks after illegally crossing into the country last Christmas says his interrogators beat and tortured him.

Robert Park crossed a frozen river into North Korea from China, shouting that he brought God’s love and carrying a letter urging the totalitarian regime to relinquish power and free its political prisoners. He held a Bible and letters addressed to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

The 28-year-old was quickly arrested by border guards and held in Pyongyang until North Korea released him in February, saying Park had admitted to committing a crime and had repented.

But Park now says the confession and contrition were extracted by force, and that the humiliating torture he suffered — some of it sexual — may have left him with permanent injuries.