ICC Note: Kenneth Bae, an American citizen and missionary, has been detained in North Korea for more than a year by a regime that is consistently recognized as the world’s worst persecutor of Christians. Kenneth has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly attempting to undermine the North Korea regime. The charge however is more likely an attempt by North Korea to gain concessions from the United States. Christians in North Korea must keep their faith completely secret, as even something as simple as owning a Bible can result in life imprisonment or execution. 
1/21/2014 North Korea (FoxNews) – The Obama administration has offered to send an envoy to North Korea to secure the release of American missionary Kenneth Bae after he appeared in front of reporters urging action from Washington, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
“We hope this decision by DPRK authorities to allow Kenneth Bae to meet with reporters signals their willingness to release him,” an administration official told the newspaper.
Robert King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, had planned to visit North Korea in late August to discuss Bae’s release, but Pyongyang withdrew its invitation at the last minute, accusing the United States of hostility.
“We have offered to send Ambassador King to Pyongyang to secure Mr. Bae’s release. We have asked the North Koreans this, and await their early response,” the official said Monday.
Bae’s sister 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 Bae’s brief news conference, Terri Chung of Edmonds, Wash., 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 that 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 the 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.
…
[Full Story]