Americans detained in N. Korea appeal for help through U.S. media

North Korea gave foreign media access on Monday to three detained Americans who said they have been able to contact their families and—watched by officials as they spoke—called for Washington to send a high-ranking representative to negotiate for their freedom. Jeffrey Fowle and Mathew Miller said they expect to face trial within a month. North Korea had made Fowle and Miller available to local staff of The Associated Press previously. That they were allowed to meet the AP again and be interviewed by an American reporter indicates North Korea’s desire to resolve the issue through some sort of contact with Washington.

Within a month, I could be sharing a jail cell with Ken Bae.

Jeffrey Fowle, who is suspected of leaving a Bible in a North Korea nightclub

The U.S. government on Monday requested that the North Korean government release the three “out of humanitarian concern” and grant Bae special amnesty to seek medical care. The U.S. has repeatedly offered to send its envoy for North Korean human rights issues, Robert King, to Pyongyang to seek a pardon for Bae and other U.S. detainees, but without success. Washington has no diplomatic ties with North Korea and no embassy in Pyongyang. Instead, the Swedish Embassy takes responsibility for U.S. consular affairs.

There is no greater priority for us than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad. We continue to work actively to secure these three U.S. citizens’ release.

Jen Psaki, State Department spokeswoman

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