Detainee urges US to secure release from North Korea
Print Edition
An American missionary who has been jailed in North Korea for more than a year appeared before reporters yesterday and appealed to the US government to do its best to secure his release.
Kenneth Bae made the comments at what he called a press conference held at his own request. He was under guard during the appearance.
Wearing a cap and inmate’s uniform with the number 103 on his chest, Bae spoke in Korean during the brief appearance.
“I believe that my problem can be solved by close cooperation and agreement between the American government and the government of this country,” he said.
Bae, the longest-serving American detainee in North Korea in recent years, expressed hope that the US government will do its best to secure his release. He said he has not been treated badly in confinement.
A sticking point with Bae might be that the US government has said he is not guilty of any crimes. US Vice President Joe Biden said last month that Bae is being held without reason, which Pyongyang denies.
Bae yesterday apologized and said he had committed anti-government acts. He said recent comments in the media from the US side — likely alluding to Biden’s remarks — complicated his situation.
Bae was arrested in November 2012 leading a tour group. He was accused of crimes against the state and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He was moved to a hospital last summer due to poor health.
His appearance came weeks after North Korea freed 85-year-old Merrill Newman, an American veteran of the Korean War who had been held for weeks for alleged crimes during the 1950-53 conflict.
Bae was born in South Korea and emigrated to the US in 1985. Before his arrest, Bae lived in China for seven years with his wife and stepdaughter. He ran a tour business and led 18 trips to North Korea, his sister his sister Terri Chung said.
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