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Kenneth Bae

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Kenneth Bae
Bae in 2014
Born (1968-08-01) August 1, 1968 (age 56)
South Korea
CitizenshipAmerican, South Korean
EducationCovenant Theological Seminary (MDiv)
OrganizationNGI - Nehemiah Global Initiative
Children3 biological, 1 stepchild
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
배준호
Hancha
Revised RomanizationBae Jun-ho
McCune–ReischauerPae Chunho
Detainment
Country North Korea
DetainedNovember 3, 2012
ReleasedNovember 8, 2014
Days in detention735
Sentence15 years of hard labor[2][3]
Reason for detentionHostile acts against the republic[4][5]
Websitehttp://ngikorea.org

Kenneth Bae (born Bae Jun-ho; born August 1, 1968)[6][7][8][9][10] is a South Korean-born American Evangelical Christian missionary.[11][12][13][14] Convicted by North Korea on charges of planning to overthrow the government, he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment in April 2013.[2][3] Bae was released on November 8, 2014, along with fellow American Matthew Todd Miller.[15]

In 2016, he founded the NGO named NGI - Nehemiah Global Initiative,[16] whose goals consist of remembering, rescuing, and recovering North Korean refugees and rebuilding their lives in China and South Korea.

Early life

[edit]

Bae was born in South Korea in 1968. He moved to the United States at age 16 with his family in 1985,[17][18][19][20] first settling in San Jose, California then later relocating to Torrance, California, in the Los Angeles district. Bae (as Jun Ho Bae)[21] graduated from West High School in Torrance in 1988, when he was 20 years old.[21] He studied at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon for two years, majoring in psychology and minoring in Chinese in preparation for possible ministerial work in China.[17][4][22][23] Bae left schooling altogether for a time in order to support his family. Later, he studied at the San Francisco Bible College, graduating in 1996,[17] as well as at Covenant Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master's of Divinity degree in 2002.[17][24]

Career and personal life

[edit]

Bae met his wife, Lydia, two weeks after starting at the University of Oregon, and got married a year later. They have two children. Bae later moved to Dalian, China in 2006, and then to Dandong, China, near neighboring North Korea.[17]

Bae lived in Lynnwood, Washington, in Snohomish County.[25][26][27][when?] Bae has a sister, Terri Chung, who is stated to live in Lynnwood[28] and in Edmonds, which is also in Snohomish County.[29]

As of January 2014, Bae is the father of two children in Arizona and of another child in Hawaii, ages 17, 22 and 23. Bae also has at least one stepdaughter.[18]

Working with YWAM's University of the Nations, Bae lived in China with his wife and his step-daughter for seven years.[18][when?] He created a tourism company called "Nations Tour" for North Korean special economic zone visits that were stated to be Christian missionary trips.[4][30][31]

Arrest and prosecution

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In December 2012, human rights activists in Seoul reported that an American had been held in North Korea for a month.[32] On December 21, 2012, North Korea announced that it had charged an American identified as Bae Jun-ho with "hostile acts against the republic."[4][5] Between January 7 and January 10, former UN ambassador Bill Richardson was unable to meet Bae and delivered a letter from Bae's son to North Korean authorities.[33]

North Korean media stated Bae was prosecuted with:[34][35][36][37]

  • Working with evangelical organization Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and its missionary training center, the University of the Nations; Bae is accused of preaching against the North Korean government in American and South Korean churches.[38]
  • Planning an anti-North Korean religious coup d'état called "Operation Jericho" (a reference to the biblical city whose walls were toppled by the sound of the Israelites' trumpets), which began in the US, South Korea, and China long before Bae traveled to North Korea.[38]
  • Setting up bases in China for the purpose of toppling the DPRK.
  • Encouraging North Korean citizens to bring down the government.
  • Conducting a malignant smear campaign.

On April 30, 2013, North Korea's Supreme Court sentenced Bae to 15 years of hard labor.[39][40]

Prison life

[edit]

On May 14, 2013, he was moved to a special prison.[41] Bae would do eight hours of farm labor a day.[34]

Bae sent hand-written letters to his family claiming that he was going blind and that help was needed.[37] On July 3, 2013, an interview with Bae was released, in which he spoke of health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, and a back problem.[34] When asked if prison life was bearable, he replied: "Yes, people here are very considerate. But my health is not in the best condition, so there are some difficulties. But, everyone here is considerate and generous, and we have doctors here, so I'm getting regular check-ups."[36] A Swedish ambassador met with Bae in a hospital in August 2013; his sister reported that he was moved from the camp because of deteriorating health and after losing more than 50 pounds (23 kg).[34][42][43] Bae's mother, Myunghee Bae, arrived in North Korea on October 11 to visit her son for five days.[44][45] She was allowed three visits, totaling six hours.[46] In February 2014, Bae left the hospital and returned to the work camp.[47]

Reactions

[edit]

United States

[edit]

On the day he was sentenced, the United States called for the immediate release of Kenneth Bae on humanitarian grounds.[48] During the 2013 Korean crisis, North Korea stated that the reason the country did not invite US officials to Pyongyang for Bae's release is that he is not a "political bargaining chip."[49][50]

On July 3, 2013, an interview with Bae was released, in which he begged for forgiveness from his captors and for the United States' help.[36] Despite getting a weekly update from the State Department, Kenneth's family insisted that the United States government wasn't doing a good enough job bringing him back.[37] It was confirmed later in July that Jimmy Carter had no plans to visit North Korea regarding Bae.[51]

On August 13, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf stated that the United States was "willing to consider a number of different options to secure his release."[52] On August 27, the United States announced that its North Korean human rights envoy, Robert R. King, would travel to Pyongyang and ask for the government to pardon Bae,[53] but three days later North Korea rescinded its invitation.[54] The reason given for the cancellation was that the United States used nuclear-capable bombers in military drills with South Korea.[55]

On November 30, the United States called for the release of Bae and Merrill Newman, an American citizen also being detained who confessed to "indelible crimes" during his service in the Korean War. National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "We continue to urge the DPRK authorities to grant [Bae] amnesty and immediate release."[56] American officials talked to relatives of both detainees. On December 7, Newman was released; Marie Harf stated: "We welcome the DPRK's decision to release [Newman]. This positive decision by the DPRK throws into sharper relief the continuing detention of Bae. We call on the DPRK once again to pardon and grant Mr. Bae special amnesty and immediately release him as a humanitarian gesture so that he too can return home to his family."[57]

On January 20, 2014, Bae said in a statement that he had committed a "serious crime" against North Korea, and that the nation does "not abuse human rights." He asked the United States government "to make more active efforts and pay more attention."[58] The United States then offered to send Robert R. King to North Korea.[59]

Dennis Rodman

[edit]

I'm gonna try and get the guy out... It's gonna be difficult.

— Dennis Rodman, May 10, 2013

On May 7, 2013, after reading an article from The Seattle Times,[60] former professional basketball player Dennis Rodman sent out a tweet asking his "friend" Kim Jong Un to do him "a solid" and release Bae.[61][62]

On May 10, Rodman promised that he would go to North Korea on August 1 to rescue Bae. Rodman criticized United States President Barack Obama, saying, "We got a black president [who] can't even go talk to [Jong-un] ... Obama can't do anything, I don't know why he won't go talk to him."[63][64] Rodman did not go to North Korea in August,[63] but did go in September 2013. While in Beijing, Rodman said he was visiting North Korea again to create a basketball league there and to fix North Korea–United States relations. Rodman declined to discuss Bae.[55][65][66] The same month, Rodman returned from China[67] and lost his temper when he was asked questions about Bae, saying that Bae was not his responsibility.[68]

On January 7, 2014, while in North Korea, Rodman was asked if he would raise the issue of Kenneth Bae during a CNN interview. He became agitated and said, "Kenneth Bae did one thing ... If you understand what Kenneth Bae did. Do you understand what he did in this country? No, no, no, you tell me, you tell me. Why is he held captive here in this country, why? ... I would love to speak on this."[69][70] The next day, Bae's sister said of Rodman's comments, "There is no diplomacy, only games, and at my brother's expense."[71] Rodman apologized for his comments about Kenneth Bae on January 9, 2014, saying he had been drinking and was stressed when he made the remarks.[72][73]

Kenneth Bae would later credit Dennis Rodman with his early release, saying that Rodman's rant raised awareness of his case and that he wished to personally thank him.[74]

Release

[edit]

Bae was released by North Korean authorities on Saturday, November 8, 2014 along with fellow American Matthew Todd Miller.[15] In 2016, Bae published a book about his ordeal: Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea.[75]

Nehemiah Global Initiative

[edit]

In 2017, Bae decided to found a NGO to help North Korean refugees and raise the awareness of people around the world about the situation in North Korea.[76]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "朝鮮起訴一名美國人 韓媒稱朝欲施壓美國謀求對話". Sina.com. 27 April 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Legge, James (April 27, 2013). "North Korea to put American tour operator Kenneth Bae on trial for 'trying to overthrow the government'". The Independent. London. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "North Korea to issue verdict on US citizen". BBC News. April 27, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d Alexander Abad-Santos (May 2, 2013). "How Ken Bae Went from North Korean Tour Operator to North Korean Prisoner". The Atlantic Wire. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Choe Sang-Hun (December 21, 2012). "North Korea Says It Detained American Over 'Hostile Acts'". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  6. ^ Arthur Bright (2013-05-10). "North Korea explains why it sentenced American Kenneth Bae to hard labor". CSMonitor.com. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  7. ^ "North Korea: American citizen detained for crime". CBS News. 2012-12-21. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  8. ^ "BBC News - North Korea says US citizen arrested". BBC. 2012-12-21. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  9. ^ "BBC News - Jailed US man Kenneth Bae's mother in North Korea visit". BBC. 2013-10-11. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  10. ^ United States Public Records Number 136330619
  11. ^ Rick Gladstone (July 31, 2014). "American Held in North Korea Says Health Is Failing". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  12. ^ Justin Rohrlich and Chad O'Carroll (November 15, 2013). "Spreading the gospel in North Korea". The Telegraph. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  13. ^ James Pearson (2013-05-06). "Detained American was missionary dispatched to China". NK News. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  14. ^ International Christian Concern (2013-11-05). "Christian missionary Kenneth Bae becomes longest serving American prisoner in North Korea since Korean War". Christian Today. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Jethro Mullen; Greg Botelho (November 9, 2014). "Two Americans freed by North Korea arrive back in U.S., reunited with families". CNN. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  16. ^ "Nehemiah Global Initiative NGI" (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  17. ^ a b c d e Bae, Kenneth (2016). Not forgotten : the true story of my imprisonment in North Korea. Mark A. Tabb. Nashville, Tennessee. ISBN 978-0-7180-7963-5. OCLC 948564418.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  18. ^ a b c "American Kenneth Bae 'admits' crime, calls on US to help free him from North Korea | Fox News". Fox News. January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  19. ^ Johnson, Gene. "Family: US man detained in N. Korea hospitalized". Bigstory.ap.org. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  20. ^ "Mom of American detained in N. Korea to visit". USA Today. 2013-10-11. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Former Torrance resident Kenneth Bae imprisoned in North Korea". Dailybreeze.com. 2013-08-26. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  22. ^ "U.S. seeks North Korean amnesty for American jailed for 15 years". Chicago Tribune. May 2, 2013.
  23. ^ "Mom of ex-University of Oregon student detained in N. Korea ends trip". KATU.com. 2013-10-15. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  24. ^ "Kenneth Bae, Author at FaithGateway".
  25. ^ Talmadge, Eric (2013-05-02). "US man in NKorean prison hopes he's released soon". Bigstory.ap.org. Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  26. ^ "White House urges N. Korea to release Kenneth Bae - Local News - Seattle, WA". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  27. ^ "White House renews urge for N. Korea to release Kenneth Bae". Kgw.com. 2013-11-30. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  28. ^ "N. Korea holds American from Lynnwood | Q13 FOX News". q13fox.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  29. ^ "U.S. News | National News - ABC News". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  30. ^ "Kenneth Bae moved from North Korea prison camp to hospital after losing 50 lbs, sister says". CBS. August 12, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  31. ^ Nicola Menzie (August 12, 2013). "Christian Missionary Kenneth Bae Moved to Hospital in North Korea, Health May Be Failing". The Christian Post. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  32. ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (December 13, 2013). "American Citizen Is Said to Be Held in North Korea". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  33. ^ Ayesha Rascoe (January 11, 2013). Doina Chiacu (ed.). "Richardson delivered letter for detained American in North Korea". Reuters. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  34. ^ a b c d Paula Hancocks; Jethro Mullen (August 12, 2013). "Kenneth Bae, American imprisoned in North Korea, moved to hospital". CNN. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  35. ^ "North Korea to put US citizen on trial". Al Jazeera. 27 Apr 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  36. ^ a b c Madison Park (July 3, 2013). "Bae from North Korean prison: Please help me". CNN. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  37. ^ a b c "Family of American held in N. Korea: U.S. not doing enough". CBS. July 25, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  38. ^ a b Jessica Phelan and Geoffrey Cain, North Korea claims American Kenneth Bae led Christian plot to overthrow regime, (May 10, 2013).
  39. ^ "UO alum Kenneth Bae sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea". dailyemerald.com. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  40. ^ "Kenneth Bae Sentenced: American Sentenced To 15 Years Hard Labor For Crimes Against North Korea". Huffington Post. May 1, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  41. ^ Jethro Mullen (2013-05-15). "North Korea says jailed American is now in 'special prison'". CNN. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  42. ^ "American jailed in North Korea hospitalized, sister says". Yahoo News. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  43. ^ "Full coverage: Kim Jong-un and North Korea tension". Yahoo News. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  44. ^ Madison Park (October 10, 2013). "Kenneth Bae's mother visits North Korea to see imprisoned son". CNN. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  45. ^ "Mother of jailed U.S. missionary in North Korea to see son". Reuters. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  46. ^ Hancocks, Paula (October 21, 2013). "Kenneth Bae's mother tells of heartbreak after seeing, leaving imprisoned son". CNN. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  47. ^ "American jailed in North Korea returned to work camp". Fox News. February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  48. ^ Mohammed, Arshad (April 29, 2013). "U.S. calls on North Korea to release detained U.S. citizen". Reuters. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  49. ^ Choe Sang-Hun (2013-05-05). "North Korea Says Jailed American Won't Be Used as 'Bargaining Chip'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  50. ^ "N. Korea says won't invite U.S. figures over jailed Korean-American". Yonhap News Agency. May 5, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  51. ^ Kim, Jack (July 29, 2013). "Aide to former U.S. President Carter denies he plans North Korea visit". Reuters. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  52. ^ Matthew Pennington (August 13, 2013). "US signals willingness to engage NKorea on detained American". canada.com. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  53. ^ Paul Eckert; Eric M. Johnson (August 28, 2013). "U.S. envoy to visit North Korea over jailed American". Reuters. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  54. ^ Choe Sang-Hun (August 30, 2013). "North Korea Rescinds Permission for U.S. Envoy Visit". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  55. ^ a b "Dennis Rodman makes return visit to North Korea". Fox News. September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  56. ^ "US urges North Korea to release detainee Merrill Newman". BBC. November 30, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  57. ^ Greg Botelho (December 7, 2013). "U.S.: American Merrill Newman 'in hand' after he's 'deported' from North Korea". CNN. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  58. ^ Judy Kwon; Josh Levs (January 20, 2014). "Kenneth Bae urges U.S. to help secure his release in North Korea". CNN. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  59. ^ Choe Sang-Hun (January 21, 2014). "US may send envoy to North Korea to seek release of jailed missionary Kenneth Bae". The Sydney Morning Harold. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  60. ^ Rodman, Dennis [@dennisrodman] (May 7, 2013). "In direct response to your article headline, "Ok." Read your story @uscthanhtan, and I decided to help. http://ow.ly/kNvp3" (Tweet). Retrieved May 8, 2013 – via Twitter.
  61. ^ Uri Friedman (2013-05-07). "Dennis Rodman calls on Kim Jong Un to do him 'a solid' and release American detainee". Foreign Policy. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  62. ^ Rodman, Dennis (May 7, 2013). "I'm calling on the Supreme Leader of North Korea or as I call him "Kim", to do me a solid and cut Kenneth Bae loose". Twitter. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  63. ^ a b Rosie Gray (August 6, 2013). "What Happened To Dennis Rodman's North Korean Rescue Mission?". Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  64. ^ "Rodman RIPS Obama Over North Korea -- 'He Can't Do S**t'". TMZ. May 10, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  65. ^ "Rodman returns to Pyongyang but says won't bring back jailed American". Reuters. September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  66. ^ "Dennis Rodman makes second North Korea trip". BBC.com. 3 September 2013.
  67. ^ Lateef Mungin (September 7, 2013). "Dennis Rodman arrives in China after North Korea visit". CNN. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  68. ^ Gerry Mullany (September 7, 2013). "Rodman, Leaving North Korea, Says Prisoner Issue 'Not My Job'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  69. ^ Calum MacLeod (January 7, 2014). "Dennis Rodman gets angry in Pyongyang". USA Today. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  70. ^ Laura Smith-Spark; Jethro Mullen (January 7, 2014). "Angry Dennis Rodman defends North Korea basketball game". CNN. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  71. ^ Jethro Mullen; Laura Smith-Spark; Michael Pearson (January 8, 2014). "Dennis Rodman 'playing games' with imprisoned American's life, family says". CNN. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  72. ^ "Dennis Rodman apologises for Kenneth Bae comments". Guardian. 9 January 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  73. ^ Jethro Mullen (January 9, 2014). "Dennis Rodman apologizes for North Korea outburst, says he'd been drinking". CNN. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  74. ^ David K. Li. "Dennis Rodman's ranting saved me from North Korean gulag". New York Post. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  75. ^ Gladstone, Rick (2 May 2016). "Kenneth Bae, Longest-Held U.S. Prisoner of North Korea, Reveals Details of Ordeal". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  76. ^ "Nehemiah Global Initiative NGI".

Further reading

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  • Bae, Kenneth; Tabb, Mark (2016). Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0718079635.
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