Kenneth Bae returned to labor camp, sister pleads for his release #BringBackBae

Kenneth Bae, the 45-year-old American held in North Korea since 2012 leaves hospital and is sent back to labor camp. The US Department of State has expressed concern for him and his serious health condition with this latest development.

Spokeswoman, Jen Psaki said,

“The Department of State has learned that the DPRK (North Korea) transferred Mr. Bae from a hospital to a labor camp, a development with which we are deeply concerned.”

“We continue to urge DPRK authorities to grant Mr. Bae special amnesty and immediate release on humanitarian grounds,” she added.

Kenneth Bae’s sister pleads for his release.

“Our family was delighted to hear President Obama advocate for the release of Kenneth Bae during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning:

“And finally, as we build the future we seek, let us never forget those who are persecuted today, among them Americans of faith. We pray for Kenneth Bae, a Christian missionary who has been held in North Korea for 15 months. Sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, his family wants him home and the United States will continue to do everything in our power to secure his release because Kenneth Bae deserves to be free.”

Tears sprung to our eyes as we heard the President affirm our family’s pleas and said he would do everything possible to secure my brother’s release. We are grateful to have the commitment of our nation’s highest leader to bringing Kenneth home, which is great reassurance to our weary spirits, now 15 months into Kenneth’s imprisonment in DPRK (North Korea).

We are so encouraged by the President’s remarks. President Obama joins a growing chorus of people from around the world who have advocated for Kenneth publicly or have reached out to us personally with a supportive word.

Yesterday the last surviving members of the U.S. Congress to have served in the Korean War—Rep. Charles Rangel from New York, Rep. John Conyers Jr. from Michigan, Rep. Sam Johnson from Texas and Rep Howard Coble from North Carolina—sent a letter to DPRK Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, asking him to release Kenneth. We thank them as well, as this movement to bring Kenneth home grows even stronger.

Every day, we receive heart-warming messages of encouragement and prayers from concerned citizens across the country. It is clear that many Americans are invested in this cause to see this fellow American come home to his family, and it gives us hope to continue our advocacy for Kenneth’s freedom.

We hope that President Obama’s remarks help spark further dialogue between the US and the DPRK toward a peaceful resolution for Kenneth’s case. We reiterate our plea to DPRK leaders to grant Kenneth amnesty and allow him to return home to his family. He has admitted his crimes in violation of DPRK laws, has served more than a year in detainment, and continues to struggle with his health. We ask for your mercy to allow Kenneth to come home.”

Terri Chung
Sister of Kenneth Bae
February 6, 2014

FreeKenNow (site no longer owned by the campaign)
Victories come by the tens of thousands of supporter signatures. Help our voice be heard to advocate for Kenneth’s release and implore our government to take direct, urgent action to bring him home. Sign the petition to bring Kenneth back home.

A letter-writing campaign for Kenneth was launched by the two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, previously imprisoned in North Korea, because letters were what sustained them during their detainment.

Please send words of hope, strength, and news to: campaign has ended

Please avoid including anything in the letters that could potentially anger the North Koreans or put Kenneth in further jeopardy. To protect your identity (email address) from the North Korea, the letters are compiled and sent to the U.S. State Department. Letters may also be signed with your first name only. The screened letters are passed to Kenneth through the Swedish ambassador to North Korea, who handles relations with the DPRK on behalf of the United States. The United States does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea.

Please keep our brother, Kenneth Bae in your prayers!