Kenneth Bae, an American citizen and Christian missionary, had been held in North Korea since November 2012. Bae was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for committing “hostile acts” against the country.
In September of this year, North Korea sentenced American Matthew Miller to six years of hard labor, also for “hostile acts” against the country.
The two Americans have been released, according to numerous reports:
DNI: We can confirm that U.S. citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller have been allowed to depart the DPRK and are on their way home
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) November 8, 2014
ODNI: "We can confirm that U.S. citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller have been allowed to depart" North Korea
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 8, 2014
Bae and Miller were "accompanied by DNI Clapper" according to ODNI
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 8, 2014
State Dept: Clapper engaged "on behalf of the United States in discussions with DPRK authorities about the release"
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 8, 2014
State Dept: US also thanks "Government of Sweden, for their tireless efforts to help secure the freedom of Mr. Bae and Mr. Miller."
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 8, 2014
Update:
.@StateDept welcomes the release of U.S. citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller from the #DPRK. http://t.co/GOQ9AO6FsL
— Department of State (@StateDept) November 8, 2014
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