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| North Korea releases American Jeffrey Fowle, US confirms | North Korea releases American Jeffrey Fowle, US confirms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US State Department says Jeffrey Fowle, one of three Americans being held in North Korea, has been released. | The US State Department says Jeffrey Fowle, one of three Americans being held in North Korea, has been released. |
| State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Fowle was home Tuesday after negotiators left Pyongyang. She said the US is still trying to free two other Americans, Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae. | State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Fowle was home Tuesday after negotiators left Pyongyang. She said the US is still trying to free two other Americans, Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae. |
| Confirming the news, the White House welcomed Fowle’s release and thanked Sweden for helping arrange his departure from North Korea. | Confirming the news, the White House welcomed Fowle’s release and thanked Sweden for helping arrange his departure from North Korea. |
| But officials drew attention to two other Americans who continue to be hold by authorities and declined to answer initial questions about the circumstances of his release and any possible negotiations. | But officials drew attention to two other Americans who continue to be hold by authorities and declined to answer initial questions about the circumstances of his release and any possible negotiations. |
| “We remain focused on the continued detention on Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller,” said press secretary Josh Earnest. | “We remain focused on the continued detention on Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller,” said press secretary Josh Earnest. |
| Associated Press journalists in Pyongyang spotted the US government plane at the capital’s international airport on Tuesday. The White House confirmed Fowle was released home to see his family. | Associated Press journalists in Pyongyang spotted the US government plane at the capital’s international airport on Tuesday. The White House confirmed Fowle was released home to see his family. |
| “While this is a positive decision by the DPRK, we remain focused on the continued detention of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller and again call on the DPRK to immediately release them,” the State Department said in a statement. | |
| “As a condition of his release, the DPRK authorities asked the United States government to transport Mr Fowle out of the country. The Department of Defense was able to provide transportation for Mr Fowle in the time frame specified by the DPRK.” | |
| Fowle had been held in North Korea for nearly six months, accused of leaving a Bible at a nightclub in May. | |
| Miller, Fowle and Bae were allowed to speak briefly with the Associated Press last month in Pyongyang. All said they believe the only solution to their situation is for a US representative to come to North Korea to make a direct appeal. | Miller, Fowle and Bae were allowed to speak briefly with the Associated Press last month in Pyongyang. All said they believe the only solution to their situation is for a US representative to come to North Korea to make a direct appeal. |
| That has often been North Korea’s bargaining chip in the past, when senior statesmen including former President Clinton made trips to Pyongyang to secure the release of detainees. | That has often been North Korea’s bargaining chip in the past, when senior statesmen including former President Clinton made trips to Pyongyang to secure the release of detainees. |