( CNN ) -- The U.S. is urging Pyongyang to release an American held captive after reports that the man attempted suicide in a North Korean prison . Swedish diplomats met with Aijalon Mahli Gomes , a U.S. State Department official confirmed Friday . He declined to release details about the 31-year-old 's condition , citing respect for the family 's privacy . `` We reiterate our urge for the North Korean government to release Mr. Gomes on humanitarian grounds , '' said Mark Toner , a spokesman for the U.S. State Department . `` A Swedish official had been granted consular access eight times , including today 's visit , '' Toner said . `` I think we 're concerned about his welfare and -- as we would with any American citizen . '' North Korea 's official news agency reported Friday that the Boston-area native serving an eight-year sentence in North Korea recently attempted suicide . Gomes attempted to take his own life `` driven by his strong guilty conscience , disappointment and despair at the U.S. government that has not taken any measure for his freedom. , '' state-run Korean Central News Agency said . The news agency said the Swedish Embassy , which represents U.S. interests in North Korea , had `` acquainted itself with the condition of the patient at the hospital . '' Calls to the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang were unanaswered over the weekend . The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it does not comment on individual cases and declined to confirm or deny its involvement . Gomes was arrested after crossing the North Korea-China border on January 25 . In April , he was sentenced to eight years of hard labor for what state media described as `` a hostile act committed against the Korean nation . '' The American was , according to South Korean news reports , an English language teacher with strong Christian convictions , who had taken part in anti-North Korean protests in the South . Last month , the news agency reported that North Korea may consider a tougher punishment for Gomes if the United States `` persists in its hostile approach '' toward Pyongyang . Two American journalists -- Laura Ling and Euna Lee , who had crossed the border last March and were arrested and sentenced to 12 years hard labor -- were released in August after an intervention by former U.S. President Bill Clinton . Robert Park , a Korean-American Christian evangelist who was arrested after entering the country on Christmas Day , had given a media interview in which he stated his aim to force change in North Korean human rights conditions . He was released in February after telling North Korean state media that he had been wrong about human rights conditions there .
Swedish Embassy works with Aijalon Mahli Gomes . Boston - area native serving an eight - year sentence in North Korea . News reports : He recently attempted suicide . Swedish Embassy represents U.S. interests in the nation .