In a surprising move, the government of North Korea freed two Americans this weekend. The release of Kenneth Bae and Todd Miller comes after the White House’s director of national intelligence, James Clapper, delivered a personal letter to DPRK authorities from President Obama as part of a top-secret mission to the country. Last month, officials freed American Jeffrey Fowle who was accused of leaving a Bible behind during a visit.
Bae, a Christian missionary, had spent two years in a North Korean labor camp. Miller spent the last seven months imprisoned, after he tore up his travel documents during a tourist visit in an attempt to declare asylum. In a statement, Bae’s sister said that even after two years in a labor camp, her brother “still has a tremendous heart for North Korea” where he would lead tours as part of his missionary work. Bae was serving a 15-year sentence after North Korean officials convicted him of attempting to overthrow the government through ministry work. Miller or his family have not addressed the media since his release …
