Aijalon Mahli Gomes, the American imprisoned in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for illegal entry into the country recently attempted to commit suicide, the official news agency KCNA reported Friday.

Gomes was in a hospital for treatment, said the KCNA.

The Swedish embassy to the DPRK representing U.S. interests there had been informed of the condition of the American.

He wanted to end his life for his "strong guilty conscience, disappointment and despair at the U.S. government that has not taken any measure for his freedom," said the KCNA

Gomes, a U.S. citizen who was born in 1979 and lived in Boston, was detained by the DPRK on Jan. 25, 2010 for entering the country illegally. On April 6 he was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment and a fine of 70million won (700,000 U.S. dollars).