American Sentenced To 15 Years Hard Labor In North Korea

Kenneth Bae, a Washington state resident, is accused of trying to establish an anti-Pyongyang base in North Korea.

By
Michael Rusch
by Michael Rusch

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Yonhap / Reuters

An undated still image of a video footage released in Seoul by Yonhap News Agency on May 2, 2013, shows a portrait of U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korea says an American citizen sentenced to 15 years hard labor has started life at a "special prison."

No other details were immediately available Wednesday about Kenneth Bae. Pyongyang said earlier this week that Bae informed his family on Friday that he couldn't appeal his April 30 sentence and that he asked his family to urge Washington to push for his amnesty.

Washington has called for Bae's release.

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman inserted himself into the story when he asked "Kim" for Kenneth Bae's release last week Tuesday on Twitter:

Dennis Rodman @dennisrodman

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.

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Dennis Rodman

@dennisrodman

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.

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