The publisher of an authorised best-seller about North Korean defector and human rights activist Shin Dong-hyuk, who has retracted substantial parts of his story, says it's anxious for an "accurate understanding" of the facts.
Penguin Books says it is consulting with former Washington Post reporter Blaine Harden, whose Escape from Camp 14 came out in 2012.
Viking, a Penguin imprint, "has been apprised that there were some inaccuracies in the story (that) Shin Dong-hyuk, the subject of the book, told the author," Penguin's publicity director Louise Braverman said.
"We are working with the author on an accurate understanding of the facts."
Harden's book spent several weeks on The New York Times best-seller lists, and, according to Braverman, has been published in 27 languages. More than 200,000 copies are in print in the US alone.
According to Harden, Shin has acknowledged to him that he changed some key details and had apologised.
"In light of my conversation with Shin, I am working with my publisher to gather more information and amend the book," Harden wrote on his web site.
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