WASHINGTON
The State Department confirmed Tuesday that an American who was detained in North Korea since May has been released.
"We welcome the DPRK’s decision to release him,” spokesperson Marie Harf said in a statement referring to Jeffrey Fowle. “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," he added.
Harf also thanked the Swedish Embassy in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, which acts on behalf of U.S. interests in North Korea.
"As a condition of his release, the DPRK authorities asked the United States government to transport Mr. Fowle out of the country," she said. "The Department of Defense was able to provide transportation for Mr. Fowle in the time frame specified by the DPRK."
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest echoed Harf’s sentiments and urged North Korea to release the two other detainees.
Fowle was arrested for leaving a Bible at a nightclub in the northern port city of Chongjin, which North Korea said was in violation of the law and contrary to his stated purpose of a tourist visit.
Miller was arrested and convicted of illegally entering the country to commit espionage and was sentenced Sept. 14 to six years of hard labor.
The Korean-American missionary, Bae, was arrested in November 2012 while leading a tour group in a special North Korean economic zone. He is currently serving a 15-year sentence for unspecified "hostile acts."
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