An American, Kenneth Bae…
Pyongyang,
January 20 (KCNA) — An American, Kenneth Bae, was interviewed by local and
foreign reporters at the Pyongyang Friendship Hospital Monday at his request.
He said he called the press conference to clarify some facts. Over the past 15
months he, through meeting with officials of the Swedish embassy and calls and
correspondence with his family, he correctly informed the U.S. government and
his family of his criminal acts and humanitarian measures taken by the DPRK
government in his behalf, he said, adding: But some media are spreading
misinformation about me and launching smear campaign against the DPRK, driving
me into a difficult situation. For example, the U.S. vice-president, at a press
conference over the release of another U.S. citizen, Mr. Newman, in December
last year, claimed that I have been detained here for no reason. Some time ago
even my sister reportedly told reporters that I am not guilty. I think such
facts enraged people here. This is why I am in a puzzle. Over the past five
months I have been hospitalized, but now I am afraid I may be sent back to the
labor camp. Worse still, I am afraid the pardon for me becomes more difficult.
To cite another example, I was told that some media reports alleged that the DPRK
is a "human rights violator", its human rights records are not good
and that I have been treated unfairly. What I would like to clarify here now is
that there has been no human rights abuse and no unfair, severe act for me. The
DPRK government has done every possible thing for me from the humanitarian
point of view. It allowed me to contact with the Swedish embassy and have
correspondence and calls with my family. It also gave me an opportunity to meet
my mother here and offered me a medical service at the hospital when my disease
got worse. I, availing myself of this opportunity, call on the U.S. government,
media and my family to stop link any smear campaign against the DPRK and false
materials with me, making my situation worse. I hope that I will be pardoned by
the DPRK and go back to my family. I request the U.S. government, media and my
family to pay deep concern and make all efforts to this end. Bae gave answers to questions raised by reporters.
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