North Korea Frees Kenneth Bae, Matthew Miller After National Intelligence Director James Clapper's Visit; Dennis Rodman Also Claims Credit for Release
U.S. Christian missionary Kenneth Bae and American citizen Matthew Miller have finally been released by North Korea after their detention for two years and seven months, respectively. Their release was part of a mission by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, but former basketball star Dennis Rodman has also claimed credit.
"It's a wonderful day for them and their families. Obviously we are very grateful for their safe return and I appreciate Director Clapper doing a great job on what was obviously a challenging mission," President Obama said in a statement Saturday, referring to the director of national intelligence who was part of discussions with North Korea.
Obama's statement came after Clapper brought Bae and Miller to their home country in a plane. The president approved the mission for their release last week, according to Fox News.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"The safety and welfare of U.S. citizens abroad is the Department of State's highest priority, and the United States has long called on [North Korean] authorities to release these individuals on humanitarian grounds," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement.
Brian P. Hale, the director of public affairs for the office of the director of national intelligence, also made a statement. "We welcome the DPRK's decision to release both Mr. Bae and Mr. Miller."
Bae's sister, Terri Chung, said her family has been "waiting for and praying for this day for two years," according to ABC News.
Bae had been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, and kept in a labor camp, where he was moved from a hospital in January amid grave concerns about his health. Bae, who was arrested in the city of Rajin on Nov. 3, 2012, was the longest-serving American detainee in North Korea since the end of the war in 1953.
Chung thanked the U.S. government, the Swedish embassy and North Korean officials for the release of her brother. "Words cannot adequately express our relief and gratitude that Kenneth is finally coming home," Chung was quoted as saying. "This ordeal has been excruciating for the family, but we are filled with joy right now."
She posted on her Facebook page: "Our Thanksgiving celebration this year will be one we will never forget."
In September, North Korea had allowed The Associated Press and CNN to speak to Bae, Miller and U.S. tourist Jeffery Fowle who was freed last month.
"The only hope that I have is to have someone from the U.S. comes," Bae was quoted as saying in the interview. "But so far, the latest I've heard is that there has been no response yet. So I believe that officials here are waiting for that."
Miller, who was raised in Bakersfield, California, was arrested after he allegedly ripped up his tourist visa at the airport and shouted that he wanted asylum in April.
Fowle, from Miamisburg, Ohio, was accused of leaving a Bible at a club in North Korea.
While Clapper secured the release of Bae and Miller, Rodman said he had pleaded with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to secure Bae's release.
"I understand the crimes [Bae] committed, and ask you my dear friend, the highly respected Marshall Kim Jong Un for his release to show my country how loving and compassionate you and the DPRK can be," Rodman, who has made visits to North Korea, wrote in a letter, according to TMZ.
"I ask for your mercy to prisoner Kenneth Bae and would be eternally grateful for his safe return and make a big step towards bridging the gap between our two nations," he added. "It will be almost impossible for me to come if my country doesn't see how compassionate DPRK is," Rodman added.
North Korea has been a brutal dictatorship, ruled by one party, the Korea Worker's Party, and led by one family, the Kims, since its formation in 1948. There are at least 100,000 Christians in that nation's harsh prison camps, where prisoners face torture, forced labor and possible execution, Christian groups say.
North Korea uses prisoners for bargaining with the United States and other Western nations.
