Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


             US Prepared to Send Envoy to N. Korea for Bae Release

   The United States is waiting for North Korea to respond to an offer to
   send a special envoy to Pyongyang to help win the release of jailed
   American Kenneth Bae.
   Speaking anonymously, a White House official said the U.S. offered to
   send Ambassador Robert King to help free Bae, who has been sentenced to
   15 years hard labor.
   The offer comes after Bae, appearing before reporters in Pyongyang,
   asked for Washington to help bring him home and confessed to a "serious
   crime" in the North.
   Bae, a missionary and businessman convicted of state subversion, is
   widely considered to have been speaking under duress at the Monday
   press conference.
   His longtime friend Bobby Lee tells VOA that he viewed the press
   conference as "orchestrated," but says it is a "promising start" that
   the United States has offered to send an envoy.
   "We`ll have to wait and see how this develops. It`s hard to know how
   this will unfold. But at least there`s a dialogue. So at least that
   makes this somewhat promising."
   But Lee says he thinks it may take more than a traditional envoy to
   help bring his friend home. A similar attempt by Ambassador King to
   secure Bae`s release was called off by Pyongyang in August.
   A family statement Monday "humbly" asked North Korean officials for
   mercy to release Bae, who it said has "acknowledged his crimes,"
   apologized and already served 15 months in jail.
   In his press conference Monday, the 45-year-old Bae, dressed in a blue
   prison suit and hat, asked his family to "stop worsening my situation
   by making vile rumors against North Korea."
   Speaking under heavy guard, Bae also told reporters he hopes the U.S.
   can step up its efforts to bring him home.
   "Up until now, I know that Americans here returned [to the U.S.] after
   a certain period thanks to the generous measures taken by the
   government of this country and the efforts of the American government.
   I would like to request the American government once more, I know for
   the past 15 months you have made a lot of effort, but now I want to ask
   you to give me direct assistance not in words, but with action, and
   solve my problem."
   Bae was detained in November, 2012, while leading a tour group. North
   Korea said he used his tourism business to form groups aimed at
   overthrowing the government.
   North Korea has detained at least six Americans since 2009. While some
   were given similarly harsh sentences, all were eventually released. In
   most cases, their release followed visits by high-ranking former U.S.
   officials.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-prepared-to-send-envoy-to-n-korea-
   for-bae-release/1834255.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-prepared-to-send-envoy-to-n-korea-for-bae-release/1834255.html