Sister of Bae implores U.S. gov’t to intervene

The sister of an American tour guide operator detained for more than a year in North Korea echoed her brother’s apology to the nation for crimes he committed and his plea to the U.S. government to ramp up efforts to secure his release.

In a statement released Monday after Kenneth Bae gave a brief news conference in North Korea, Terri Chung said, “We understand that Kenneth has been convicted of crimes under DPRK laws. Our family sincerely apologizes on Kenneth’s behalf.”

She said to North Korea’s leaders: “We humbly ask for your mercy to release my brother.”

The family is concerned about Bae’s health, and Chung said she could “see that he was distressed.”

Earlier this month, Chung said Bae did nothing wrong. At the press conference, which Bae said was held at his request, Bae pointed to a comment by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden last month as having made his situation more difficult.

“The vice president of United States said that I was detained here without any reason,” Bae said. “And even my younger sister recently told the press that I had not committed any crime and I know that the media reported it.

“I think these comments infuriated the people here enormously. And for this reason, I am in a difficult situation now. As a result, although I was in medical treatment in the hospital for five months until now, it seems I should return to prison. And moreover there is greater difficulty in discussions about my amnesty.”

Bae was arrested in November 2012 while leading a tour group and accused of crimes against the state before being sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He was moved to a hospital last summer in poor health.

At the press conference Monday, Bae apologized and said he committed anti-government acts. He wore a gray cap and an inmate’s uniform with the number 103 on his chest and was under guard during the appearance.

Bae spoke in Korean during the brief appearance, which was attended by The Associated Press and several other members of the foreign media in Pyongyang.

Bae, the longest-serving American detainee in North Korea in recent years, expressed hope that the U.S. government would do its best to win his release. He said he had not been treated badly in confinement.

“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.

In her statement, Chung thanked U.S. leaders for their efforts so far, but called for an increased push to secure her brother’s release. “We implore Secretary Kerry and President Obama to take immediate action to bring Kenneth home,” she said. AP