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North Korea refusing US offers to send envoy to seek detainees' release North Korea refusing US offers to send envoy to seek detainees' release
(35 minutes later)
North Korea is not accepting US offers to send a high-level envoy to seek the release of three detained Americans, a senior US official has said.North Korea is not accepting US offers to send a high-level envoy to seek the release of three detained Americans, a senior US official has said.
North Korea this week sentenced 24-year-old Matthew Miller to six years' hard labour, deepening US concern over the cases. Miller, who according to the court tore up his visa on arrival in Pyongyang in April, was convicted of entering the country illegally to commit espionage.North Korea this week sentenced 24-year-old Matthew Miller to six years' hard labour, deepening US concern over the cases. Miller, who according to the court tore up his visa on arrival in Pyongyang in April, was convicted of entering the country illegally to commit espionage.
Another trial is expected soon for Jeffrey Fowle, who was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a sailor's club. Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American Christian missionary, is serving a 15-year sentence for alleged "hostile acts".Another trial is expected soon for Jeffrey Fowle, who was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a sailor's club. Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American Christian missionary, is serving a 15-year sentence for alleged "hostile acts".
Robert King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, told the Associated Press that freeing the detainees could provide a diplomatic opening, but Washington would not give in to attempts to "extort" political gain from the detentions.Robert King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, told the Associated Press that freeing the detainees could provide a diplomatic opening, but Washington would not give in to attempts to "extort" political gain from the detentions.
Fowle has suggested that former presidents Bill Clinton or George W Bush could help resolve their cases, but King suggested the prisoner had been told to say that. "By the way they glance frigidly to the side, you can tell somebody has coached them," he said. A visit by a former US president would represent a diplomatic coup for Kim Jong-un, who has yet to meet a world leader.Fowle has suggested that former presidents Bill Clinton or George W Bush could help resolve their cases, but King suggested the prisoner had been told to say that. "By the way they glance frigidly to the side, you can tell somebody has coached them," he said. A visit by a former US president would represent a diplomatic coup for Kim Jong-un, who has yet to meet a world leader.
Clinton went to Pyongyang in 2009 to free a couple of jailed journalists. Jimmy Carter made the trip in 2010 to secure the release of Aijalon Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour for illegally crossing into the country to do missionary work.Clinton went to Pyongyang in 2009 to free a couple of jailed journalists. Jimmy Carter made the trip in 2010 to secure the release of Aijalon Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour for illegally crossing into the country to do missionary work.
Pyongyang has previously rejected an offer from Washington for dispatch King to negotiate a pardon for Bae. King would not be drawn on whether a visit by a former president would be appropriate but did not rule it out. "These are American citizens. We try our best to do everything we can to aid and assist them when they are in situations like this. And we want to be as supportive and helpful to them and their families as we can be," he said. Pyongyang has previously rejected an offer from Washington to dispatch King to negotiate a pardon for Bae. King would not be drawn on whether a visit by a former president would be appropriate but did not rule it out.
"These are American citizens. We try our best to do everything we can to aid and assist them when they are in situations like this. And we want to be as supportive and helpful to them and their families as we can be," he said.
More details have emerged of Miller's life in Seoul, South Korea, before he left for the North. Acquaintances who met or worked with him said the 25-year-old from Bakersfield, California, did not seem to have close friends or a regular job and pretended to be an Englishman named Preston Somerset.More details have emerged of Miller's life in Seoul, South Korea, before he left for the North. Acquaintances who met or worked with him said the 25-year-old from Bakersfield, California, did not seem to have close friends or a regular job and pretended to be an Englishman named Preston Somerset.
They said he gave no inkling of an interest in North Korea and spent time and money hiring artists to help create his own adaptation of Alice in Wonderland in the style of Japanese anime.They said he gave no inkling of an interest in North Korea and spent time and money hiring artists to help create his own adaptation of Alice in Wonderland in the style of Japanese anime.
Francis Cole, an American who produces Japanese-style erotic art, said on a freelancing website that he was one of several artists, writers and musicians whom Miller had commissioned.Francis Cole, an American who produces Japanese-style erotic art, said on a freelancing website that he was one of several artists, writers and musicians whom Miller had commissioned.
Miller, under his Preston Somerset alias, and Cole were members of the deviantArt.com community where people can post and share their own artwork. Miller recruited a gaming programmer to produce music for him, artists to draw men dressed as Cheshire cats, and a ghostwriter to help piece the whole thing together.Miller, under his Preston Somerset alias, and Cole were members of the deviantArt.com community where people can post and share their own artwork. Miller recruited a gaming programmer to produce music for him, artists to draw men dressed as Cheshire cats, and a ghostwriter to help piece the whole thing together.
A ghostwriter who was paid $200 to write for Miller told Reuters: "I vividly remember that he wanted it to have an Alice in Wonderland-like feel."A ghostwriter who was paid $200 to write for Miller told Reuters: "I vividly remember that he wanted it to have an Alice in Wonderland-like feel."
It is still not clear what happened in the months between Miller's quest to self-publish his own version of Alice in Wonderland and his decision to go to North Korea.It is still not clear what happened in the months between Miller's quest to self-publish his own version of Alice in Wonderland and his decision to go to North Korea.