American missionary’s health failing as he marks one year in North Korean custody

The article that I read for this week is about the imprisonment of an American Christian missionary, Kenneth Bae, in North Korea. Bae is sentenced fifteen years of imprisonment in the hard labor camp in North Korea. The United States government and Bae’s family claim that the North Korean authorities should immediately release Bae on humanitarian grounds. The value claim that they have made is supported by various grounds. First, Bae’s health becomes crucial and failing after the one year of imprisonment in hard labor camp. Currently, Bae is hospitalized in Rajin, a small city in North Korea, where he cannot receive full treatment for diabetes and enlarged heart. Secondly, Bae is the only U.S. citizen who has been held by North Korean authorities more than a year since the Korean War. The precedent tells that the imprisonments of U.S. citizens did not exceed a year to release them. Lastly, Bae’s Christian group states that “no one should ever face imprisonment or this type of treatment simply because of their religious beliefs.” However, North Korean government considers Bae’s mission trip to North Korea as a serious hostile acts and plotting to overthrow the government. I do not believe that the North Korean government will change the decision that has been sentenced to Bae because of moral reasons like humanitarian grounds. I think North Korea will demand something from the U.S. government in order to release Kenneth Bae.

American missionary’s health failing as he marks one year in North Korean custody