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A North Korean University was named the US citizen detained on Saturday as Kim Sang-Men, also known as Tony Kim.
The Korean-American teacher at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) for several weeks prior to his arrest.
The investigation into Mr Kim for the words "not connected in any way" to the University, PUST said in a statement to the BBC.
Mr Kim was arrested as he was about to Pyongyang.
North Korean authorities have not yet said the reason for the arrest.
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Mr Kim, who is in his late 50s, was involved in the aid program and are in North Korea to discuss relief efforts.
He reportedly taught at Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China, which is affiliated PUST. The BBC's Yanbian calls were not answered.
PUST's University, Park Chan-I, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying Mr Kim "has been involved with some of the other activities outside PUST such as helping an orphanage."
Three US citizens held
The detention comes as tensions ratchet up the Korean peninsula, with US warships steaming towards the region as Pyongyang threatens a "super-powerful pre-emptive strike".
The US has in the past accused North Korea of detaining its citizens to use them as pawns.
Mr. Kim is one of three US citizens currently being held by North Korea.
In April last year, Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old naturalized US citizen born in South Korea, was sentenced to 10 years' hard labor for spying. He was arrested the previous August.
US student Otto Warmbier, 21, was arrested in January last year for trying to steal a propaganda signs from a hotel while visiting North Korea.
He was 15 years' hard labor for crimes against the state in March 2016.
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