US calls on DPRK to release detained American

Xinhua, April 30, 2013

The U.S. government on Monday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to release the detained American citizen.

Describing welfare of U.S. citizens as a "critical and top priority" for his department, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell called on the DPRK to release the detained American, identified by him as Kenneth Bae, "immediately on humanitarian grounds."

"The embassy of Sweden in Pyongyang acts as our protecting power for issues involving U.S. citizens in North Korea, so we are in close coordination with representatives from the embassy of Sweden," he said at a briefing, adding that Swedish diplomats last visited him on Friday.

DPRK's official KCNA news agency reported Saturday that an American citizen will face verdict at the Supreme Court of the country. The report said that he entered Rason City of the DPRK on Nov. 3 last year for the purpose of tour and was arrested for committing crimes against the DPRK.

From Jan. 7 to 10, Former U.S. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt paid a " private humanitarian" visit to Pyongyang, which was reportedly linked to the release of Bae.