The family of Kenneth Bae is expressing extreme disappointment over North Korea’s decision to rescind an invitation to US Envoy Robert King to come and discuss the imprisonment of American prisoner Kenneth Bae, reports the NY Times.
” It has been 301 days since Kenneth has been detained,” said Terri Chung, Bae’s sister said in an e-mailed statement. “We are not giving up hope for a peaceful and timely resolution.”
King was scheduled to land in Pyongyang from Tokyo on Friday. It is not known why North Korea changed its mind about the scheduled meeting.
“We are surprised and disappointed by North Korea’s decision”, a State Department spokeswoman said in a statement. “We have sought clarification from the D.P.R.K. about its decision and have made every effort so that Ambassador King’s trip could continue as planned or take place at a later date.”
Bae is a Korean American from Washington State and was working as a tour guide in North Korea when he was arrested for “crimes against the state.”
You can read about the back drop against which this has all taken place in the NY Times.
@RepGraceMeng via Twitter RE: North Korea Dashes Hopes for Release of American Prisoner Kenneth: "Very disappointing"