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North Korea refusing US offers to send envoy to seek detainees' release
Source: Associated Press
North Korea refusing US offers to send envoy to seek detainees' release
Associated Press in Washington and Reuters in Seoul
theguardian.com, Thursday 18 September 2014 05.19 EDT
North Korea is not accepting US offers to send a high-level envoy to seek the release of three detained Americans, a senior US official has said.
North Korea this week sentenced 24-year-old Matthew Miller to six years' hard labour, deepening US concern over the cases. Miller, who according to the court tore up his visa on arrival in Pyongyang in April, was convicted of entering the country illegally to commit espionage.
Another trial is expected soon for Jeffrey Fowle, who was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a sailor's club. Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American Christian missionary, is serving a 15-year sentence for alleged "hostile acts".
Robert King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, told the Associated Press that freeing the detainees could provide a diplomatic opening, but Washington would not give in to attempts to "extort" political gain from the detentions.
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Associated Press in Washington and Reuters in Seoul
theguardian.com, Thursday 18 September 2014 05.19 EDT
North Korea is not accepting US offers to send a high-level envoy to seek the release of three detained Americans, a senior US official has said.
North Korea this week sentenced 24-year-old Matthew Miller to six years' hard labour, deepening US concern over the cases. Miller, who according to the court tore up his visa on arrival in Pyongyang in April, was convicted of entering the country illegally to commit espionage.
Another trial is expected soon for Jeffrey Fowle, who was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a sailor's club. Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American Christian missionary, is serving a 15-year sentence for alleged "hostile acts".
Robert King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, told the Associated Press that freeing the detainees could provide a diplomatic opening, but Washington would not give in to attempts to "extort" political gain from the detentions.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/18/north-korea-us-envoy-detainees
