American detained in North Korea said he wanted to help Christians

(Reuters) - The American detained by North Korea knew he risked jail by leaving a Bible behind at a club and was not abused during his nearly half year detention in the state often criticised for suppressing religious freedom, he told NBC News on Friday.

Jeffrey Fowle, 56, was released last week by North Korea and then returned to his home near Dayton. He had been one of three Americans held by mercurial state, which typically uses the release of foreign captives to build domestic political support for its leaders.