SAN JOSE — Ambassador Robert King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, will travel to Pyongyang later this week on the invitation of the North Korean government for talks on releasing jailed American missionary Kenneth Bae.
“Ambassador King will request the D.P.R.K. pardon Mr. Bae and grant him special amnesty on humanitarian grounds so that he can be reunited with his family and seek medical treatment,” the State Dept. said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It smells like a done deal to me, so his release is probably in the bag. In the event that it is not a done deal, the situation is quite well-suited to gaining his release anyway, and Pyongyang may even think it has a chance to kickstart some positive momentum in DC by giving him back,” said Chris Green, a North Korea expert at the Seoul-based Daily NK.
“But there is an imperative here for North Korea, too: frankly, having Bae pass away in North Korean detention is more geopolitical trouble than it is worth for Pyongyang, so if his health is in rapid decline that may be forcing their hand,” Green added.
Bae was arrested in Rason in North Korea’s north east in November 2012 and subsequently tried and convicted of plotting to harm the country. He is said to be in deteriorating health and recently issued a plea from a hospital bed for U.S. government help in getting him home.
“I request that the American government takes all efforts to help me receive a pardon/amnesty from the Republic…To this end, I think that a high-ranking official should come here, as a representative of the U.S., and make an official request of pardon for my release,” Bae told the pro-North Korea Chosun Sinbo in mid-August.
King is currently traveling in Asia as part of a three nation trip that has seen him so far meet human rights groups and the governments of South Korea and China. He is scheduled to travel to Japan on Wednesday to meet with officials in Tokyo on what was to have been the final leg of his trip.
(Image: United Nations)
Additional reporting: Chad O’Carroll
SAN JOSE -- Ambassador Robert King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, will travel to Pyongyang later this week on the invitation of the North Korean government for talks on releasing jailed American missionary Kenneth Bae.
"Ambassador King will request the D.P.R.K. pardon Mr. Bae and grant him special amnesty on humanitarian grounds so that he can be reunited with his family and seek medical treatment," the State Dept. said in a statement on Tuesday.
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Martyn Williams
Martyn is a North Korea media and tech specialist, and sole author / editor of the website North Korea Tech. He spent 16 years covering technology in Asia and is now based in Silicon Valley.