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| Jeffrey Fowle, American Held by North Korea, Is Released | Jeffrey Fowle, American Held by North Korea, Is Released |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Jeffrey E. Fowle, one of three Americans imprisoned by North Korea, has been released and is on his way home after six months of captivity, the White House said on Tuesday, easing though not ending a clash between the isolated Asian country and the United States. | WASHINGTON — Jeffrey E. Fowle, one of three Americans imprisoned by North Korea, has been released and is on his way home after six months of captivity, the White House said on Tuesday, easing though not ending a clash between the isolated Asian country and the United States. |
| A State Department spokeswoman, Marie Harf, who announced Mr. Fowle’s release in Washington, said American officials were still trying to secure the release of the other two prisoners, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae. | A State Department spokeswoman, Marie Harf, who announced Mr. Fowle’s release in Washington, said American officials were still trying to secure the release of the other two prisoners, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae. |
| Mr. Fowle, 56, an Ohio municipal worker, entered North Korea on a tourist visa in April and was arrested after he left a Bible in a hotel. Experts on North Korea have said that he may have been suspected of proselytizing his Christian faith, which is interpreted as a crime in a country that sees religion as a threat to its authoritarian government. | Mr. Fowle, 56, an Ohio municipal worker, entered North Korea on a tourist visa in April and was arrested after he left a Bible in a hotel. Experts on North Korea have said that he may have been suspected of proselytizing his Christian faith, which is interpreted as a crime in a country that sees religion as a threat to its authoritarian government. |
| In interviews with American news organizations permitted by North Korea in September, Mr. Fowle said that he had been allowed to contact his wife and three small children in Miamisburg, Ohio, outside Dayton, but that he had not spoken with them at that point for three weeks. “I’m desperate to get back to them,” he told the interviewers. | In interviews with American news organizations permitted by North Korea in September, Mr. Fowle said that he had been allowed to contact his wife and three small children in Miamisburg, Ohio, outside Dayton, but that he had not spoken with them at that point for three weeks. “I’m desperate to get back to them,” he told the interviewers. |
| His family had previously offered a public “heartfelt apology” on his behalf for any offense he may have committed. | His family had previously offered a public “heartfelt apology” on his behalf for any offense he may have committed. |
| The White House remains hopeful for the release of the other two Americans as well. Mr. Bae, a Christian missionary who entered North Korea in 2012, has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for “anti-state” activities. Mr. Miller entered North Korea in April and, according to the Pyongyang government, shredded his American passport and requested asylum. | The White House remains hopeful for the release of the other two Americans as well. Mr. Bae, a Christian missionary who entered North Korea in 2012, has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for “anti-state” activities. Mr. Miller entered North Korea in April and, according to the Pyongyang government, shredded his American passport and requested asylum. |
| “We certainly welcome the decision from the DPRK to release him,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said of Mr. Fowle, using the initials of North Korea’s formal name. “While this was 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 United States does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea and Mr. Earnest said Sweden, which represents American interests in Pyongyang, has played an important role in seeking the release of the three Americans. | |
| Mr. Earnest said North Korea made a condition of Mr. Fowle’s release that the United States transport him out of the country. The Pentagon provided a plane to fly him out. |