hankyoreh

By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent

Myunghee Bae met with her son, Korean-American Kenneth Bae (45, Korean name Pae Jun-ho), on Oct. 11 in a hospital in Pyongyang, Kyodo News Agency reported. Bae has been detained in North Korea since November.

"This morning I met my son in the hospital and he seems like he’s in a decent state,” Bae told Kyodo News. “My son’s health isn’t good, but is getting better.”

The Bae family released a statement in which they announced that Mrs. Bae is visiting the North and planning on staying there for about five days.

Mrs. Bae left a video message on freekennow.com, a website calling for Kenneth’s release.

“My heart was broken into pieces when his prison interview was released on July 3 because his appearance was very shocking. He looked different and he lost so much weight,” she said.

“As a mother, I worry endlessly about his health. I want to see him and comfort him and hold him in person.”

In April, North Korea’s highest court convicted Kenneth Bae of crimes against the government and sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor.

Bae’s health got worse, and he lost 22kg. Two months ago, he was hospitalized.

Robert King, US human rights envoy to North Korea, was planning to visit the North to negotiate for the release of Bae at the end of August. But North Korea cancelled his visit because B-52 strategic bombers participated in the US-ROK combined military exercises.

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