By Stoyan Zaimov
The family of Kenneth Bae, the Christian missionary and U.S. citizen who has been in prison for nine months in North Korea, is pleading for his release as they have received troubling news about his deteriorating health.
“He doesn’t know how much longer his body can stand the physical labor,” said Terri Chung, Bae’s sister, according to the Associated Press. “Eight hours a day, six days a week in the fields – it’s not the kind of thing the average American is used to.”
Bae, who worked as a tour guide, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea supposedly for actions he had made against the government. The 45-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, a father of three, apologized for any wrongdoing earlier this summer in a video message, and shared of the numerous health issues he struggles with, including diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver and a back problem.
“I was hoping that my problem would be worked out by end of June. So my hope is that North Korea will forgive, and the U.S. will try harder to get me out speedily. I’m asking for their help,” Bae said in the video, which was shared by CNN.