Talks for Release of Kenneth Bae Cancelled Again by North Korea


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North Korea again withdrew an invitation for an American diplomat to visit Pyongyang to discuss the release of Korean-American Kenneth Bae. This is the second time the Asian country has rescinded an offer to free the Christian missionary who has been held in North Korea for over a year.

North Korea blames the tensions caused by military actions of the U.S. and South Korea, when supposed American B-52 bombers held flight drills near the Korean Peninsula week. Ambassador Robert King is Washington’s special envoy on North Korean human rights. Jen Psaki, the State Department’s spokeswoman, pointed out that North Korea announced in May that it would not use Kenneth Bae as a political bargaining chip.

North Korea first rescinded an invitation in August for King to visit, after claiming Washington provoked them by flying B-52 bombers during previous military drills with South Korea. Bae has been using Choson Sinbu, a pro-North Korean newspaper based in Japan, to speak publicly.

Bae was arrested after he entered North Korea through the city of Rason with a group of visitors in November 2012. Attempting to build a covert proselytizing operation, he used a tourism business as a cover. He was convicted of planning to bring down the government through religious activities. According to the North Korean’s government, and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.

Kenneth Bae
Health problems have prevented Bae from attending a North Korean labor camp. Bae claims he is suffering from back pain and neck pain. Just three weeks ago however, he was transferred back to penal work according to his family. Teri Chung, Bae’s sister, said that his return to the labor camp “gives our family renewed urgency to bring him home.”

“We again call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to grant Bae special amnesty and immediate release as a humanitarian gesture so he may reunite with his family and seek medical care,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Sunday. “We will continue to work actively to secure Mr. Bae’s release.”

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