The sister of Kenneth Bae appeared on CNN and said the move of the North Korean prisoner and American citizen from a hospital to a labor camp “deeply concerned” the family.
“It’s just devastating,” Terri Chung said. “… We’re really discouraged and concerned.”
Chung quit her job to devote all her efforts to advocating for her brother’s release.
After 15 months of imprisonment, President Obama made his first remarks about the case this week and offered a prayer for Bae’s safe return.
North Korea has so far not responded to the State Department’s offer of sending a special envoy to North Korea to discuss Bae’s case. Many analyst believe Pyongyang is using Bae as a negotiating tactic over its nuclear and missile program.
“This is our whole life,” Chung said during an appearance on CNN. “We will not rest easy until his feet touch U.S. soil.”
Also appearing with Chung on CNN was sports agent David Sugarman. Sugarman represents retired basketball player Kenny Anderson who recently accompanied another retired player, Dennis Rodman, during his controversial visit to North Korea.
“Human to human, I’m asking you to release Kenneth Bae. I’m going to take it a step further: If the North Korea government actually needs somebody in North Korea, take David Sugarman,” Sugarman said. “Allow me to go there. I’m younger. I’m healthier.”
He urged Americans to tweet the hashtag #BringBaeBack to build public support of Bae’s release and recognition of his plight.
You can hear more of Chung and Sugarman’s thoughts in the video clip from CNN below.
