The fate of Americans captured in North Korea

Many American citizens have been detained by North Korea in the past 15 years, but have been released after high-level meetings between the two countries.

US Private Travis King ran across the border at the Joint Security Area (JSA) on July 18 and was likely captured by North Korea.

King's motive for his defection is unclear, but he is one of several US citizens arrested in North Korea since 2009. They have all been released after serving time in prison, but some have died within days of their release.

Bruce Byron Lowrance

In October 2018, North Korea announced that Bruce Byron Lowrance, 60, had been arrested while illegally entering the country from China. US authorities later confirmed that a man matching Lowrance's name and description was arrested in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Lowrance reportedly told investigators that he believed his visit to North Korea would help ease geopolitical tensions.

He was released after a month, in what US officials said was an effort to get Pyongyang to improve relations with Washington, amid high-level meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.

Lowrance has not yet made any public comments about his capture or release in North Korea.

Otto Warmbier

Otto Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia (USA), was arrested while participating in a tour of North Korea on January 2, 2016. This 5-day trip was organized by a low-cost Chinese travel company, to experience the New Year atmosphere in North Korea.

Warmbier's father said his son was curious about North Korean culture and wanted to meet the people of the country. However, Warmbier was arrested at his hotel for allegedly trying to steal a North Korean propaganda poster.

Otto Warmbier is escorted to the Supreme Court in Pyongyang, North Korea in March 2016. Photo: AP

Two months later, a North Korean court sentenced Warmbier to 15 years of hard labor. Warmbier later suffered from an unexplained neurological injury. Seventeen months after his arrest, Warmbier was released in critical condition.

He died in hospital in June 2017, six days after being flown back to the U.S. American doctors said Warmbier returned home in a vegetative state, but his family said that description was incorrect.

The father said his son had shown signs of “struggles, violent convulsions, and unusual screaming.” Warmbier’s head was shaved, he was blind and deaf, and his limbs were “completely deformed,” as well as a large scar on his foot, the father said.

Warmbier's father claimed that he "was tortured". A US federal court later declared that North Korea was responsible for Warmbier's death.

Pyongyang has not officially denied the allegations, but has repeatedly insisted it has done nothing wrong. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Warmbier had received medical care “with all sincerity.” KCNA said North Korea was the biggest victim of Warmbier’s death and the US “smear campaign.”

Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller, a 24-year-old teacher in California, was arrested by North Korean authorities on charges of "hostile" espionage while on a tour in the country in April 2014.

North Korean officials later said that Miller had admitted to having "daring ambitions" to explore the country and investigate living conditions there.

Miller was sentenced to six years of hard labor in September 2014 and released a month later. In interviews before and after his release, Miller said he spent most of his time digging, carrying rocks, and pulling weeds.

In an interview with NK News , Miller said that he initially intended to go to North Korea to defect and wanted to talk to the people of this country about everyday things, unrelated to politics.

"I tried to stay in North Korea. But they wanted me to leave. The first night, they told me to get on the next flight, but I refused," he recalled.

Miller said he eventually changed his mind about seeking asylum in North Korea and asked the US government for help to return.

Kenneth Bae

Kenneth Bae was arrested in November 2012. He was released at the same time as Matthew Miller.

The Korean-American missionary has traveled to North Korea several times. During one of those trips, he was stopped and North Korean officials discovered he was carrying a USB drive containing Christian literature.

North Korea has made a series of accusations that Mr. Bae committed "hostile acts," including plotting to organize anti-government activities, transporting banned documents, and supporting dissidents.

He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. North Korean state media said he was spared the death penalty because he had "made a sincere confession."

According to Bae's family, Kenneth Bae's health deteriorated during his time in prison due to the poor conditions and forced labor. At one point, Bae was sent to a labor camp for foreigners, where he was the only prisoner.

Bae was released and returned to the US with Miller after former US director of national intelligence James Clapper made a secret trip to Pyongyang.

After his release, Mr. Bae wrote a memoir recounting how he was interrogated continuously from 8am to 10pm or 11pm every day during the first four weeks of his imprisonment.

Eura Lee and Laura Ling

In March 2009, North Korea arrested two journalists from California, Eura Lee and Laura Ling, while they were filming a documentary about humanitarian conditions on the China-North Korea border. Two other members of the crew, an American cameraman and a Chinese tour guide, escaped but were briefly detained by Chinese authorities.

Ms. Ling later admitted to crossing into North Korea, although she said the group was in North Korean territory for less than a minute before returning to China. Eura Lee and Laura Ling were later charged by North Korea with illegal border crossing. In June 2009, both were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.

"I had been preparing myself for a long sentence, but when I faced the verdict, I realized I wasn't ready for it," Ling told NPR . "I wondered if this meant all doors of opportunity were closed and my fate was sealed."

The two journalists were released in August 2009, after former US President Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang.

In July 2017, the US State Department banned its citizens from traveling to North Korea due to the high risk of long-term detention. The rule remained in effect until August of this year.

Mr. Hoang (According to BBC )

Source link