ameriken
11-08-14, 09:37 AM
North Korea releases US citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller
North Korea (http://www.theguardian.com/world/north-korea) has released two US citizens held in the country, it was confirmed on Saturday. Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller are on their way back to the US.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed the release of the two Americans, and said they were being accompanied back to the US by James Clapper, the director of national intelligence.
Bae, a missionary from Washington state, was arrested in November 2012; Miller was arrested in April 2014. Both were sentenced to hard labour.
In May 2013, Bae, who was then 44 years old, was given a 15-year sentence (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/02/kenneth-bae-north-korea-sentences), after being found guilty of unspecified crimes against the state.
In September Miller,a 24-year-old from California, was given a six-year sentence (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/14/north-korea-matthew-miller-sentence-us-hard-labour)after being found guilty of entering the country illegally and committing “hostile acts” against the state. While at Pyongyang airport in April, he had reportedly torn up his entrance visa.
Diplomatic efforts to free both men had been ongoing. In a statement released on Saturday, the State Department said: “We are grateful to director of national intelligence Clapper, who engaged on behalf of the United States in discussions with DPRK authorities about the release of two citizens.
“We also want to thank our international partners, especially our Protecting Power, the government of Sweden, for their tireless efforts to help secure the freedom of Mr Bae and Mr Miller.”
More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/08/north-korea-releases-us-citizens-kenneth-bae-matthew-todd-miller
North Korea (http://www.theguardian.com/world/north-korea) has released two US citizens held in the country, it was confirmed on Saturday. Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller are on their way back to the US.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed the release of the two Americans, and said they were being accompanied back to the US by James Clapper, the director of national intelligence.
Bae, a missionary from Washington state, was arrested in November 2012; Miller was arrested in April 2014. Both were sentenced to hard labour.
In May 2013, Bae, who was then 44 years old, was given a 15-year sentence (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/02/kenneth-bae-north-korea-sentences), after being found guilty of unspecified crimes against the state.
In September Miller,a 24-year-old from California, was given a six-year sentence (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/14/north-korea-matthew-miller-sentence-us-hard-labour)after being found guilty of entering the country illegally and committing “hostile acts” against the state. While at Pyongyang airport in April, he had reportedly torn up his entrance visa.
Diplomatic efforts to free both men had been ongoing. In a statement released on Saturday, the State Department said: “We are grateful to director of national intelligence Clapper, who engaged on behalf of the United States in discussions with DPRK authorities about the release of two citizens.
“We also want to thank our international partners, especially our Protecting Power, the government of Sweden, for their tireless efforts to help secure the freedom of Mr Bae and Mr Miller.”
More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/08/north-korea-releases-us-citizens-kenneth-bae-matthew-todd-miller