South Korea ? North Korea said Friday an American imprisoned for illegally entering the reclusive country has tried to kill himself.

Aijalon Mahli Gomes, from Boston, attempted to commit suicide and is being treated at a hospital, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said, citing information from “a relevant” government entity.

KCNA said the attempt was “driven by his strong guilty conscience” and despair that the U.S. government has not tried to gain his freedom.

The brief dispatch also said the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang was aware of his condition. The U.S. and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations, and Sweden handles Washington’s interests in the country.