Summary: In late 2012, Kenneth Bae, a Korean American traveled to North Korea with five other tourists, who were European. He was there for his tour company, which is also a Christian missionary group. While in North Korea, he was detained by officials for "committing hostile acts" towards their government. Bae was sentenced to fifteen years of hard labor. Months later, North Korea agreed to allow U.S. envoy, Bob King, to visit the country to negoitate the release of Bae. However, on Saturday, August 21, North Korea backed out of the deal, citing the United States' recent mobilizing of B-52H strategic bombers over the Korean peninsula during military drills as their reason.
Analysis: Kenneth Bae is the sixth American to be detained by North Korean officials within the last four years. This does not surprise me as North Korean-American tensions has been high since the 1950s. The United States does not agree with North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons for fear they might use them against their people or/and start an unnecessary war with America and/or its allies, especially South Korea. I'm sure the reason the U.S. practiced their weapons in North Korea was to prepare combact procedures in the case of an attack. North Korea's totalitarian leader, Kim Jong Un, has made it precisely clear on multiple occasions that he isn't afraid of the United States' military by threatening missile attacks in the past. As a result, I believe it's absolutely necessary for the U.S. to stay on alert. I think it was a really brave and honorable act of Bae to travel the dangerous country as a Christian missionary, spreading the love of Christ. I hope once again a former president or diplomat can bring Bae home to his family. However, while he is in prison, it's my prayer that Bae stays strong in his faith.
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2021737945_apasnkoreausdetainedamerican.html
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2021737945_apasnkoreausdetainedamerican.html
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| An innocent man |
So Kenneth Bae went to Korea in hopes of spreading the Christian word and was then held captive for hostile acts? And America is unable to bring him home? That is in no way comforting to know! Also, was any of his friends held captive as well? Or just Bae?
ReplyDeleteComment by Tyra Harris 5th period
DeleteWell, according to Wikipedia the following were also reasons he was sentenced:
Planning an anti-North Korean religious coup d'état called "the Jericho operation".
Admitting to setting up bases in China for the purpose of toppling the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Encouraging North Korean citizens to bring down the government.
Conducting a "malignant" smear campaign.
I didn't find that anywhere else in my research, so that's why I didn't include it in my blog. I'm guessing they're unable to bring him home because he actually may have plotted against their government. I don't know if any of the Europeans were also detained as newspapers tend to focus on Americans.However, in no article did I read on this topic, suggested that they, too, were captive.