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AN AMERICAN HELD hostage for six months in North Korea arrived home today after his surprise release, stressing he had been well treated and voicing support for two other United States citizens still in detention.
Jeffrey Fowle was reunited with his wife and three children in his home state of Ohio, after Pyongyang allowed a Pentagon plane to fly into the North Korean capital on Tuesday to collect him.
Fowle entered the North in April and was detained after allegedly leaving a Bible in the bathroom of a nightclub in the northern port of Chongjin.
North Korea heavily restricts religious activity in the isolated country.
“Jeff would like you to know that he was treated well by the government of the DPRK (North Korea) and he’s currently in good health,” his family said in a statement, read by their spokesman.
They thanked the State Department, the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang that acted as a go-between to secure his release, former US ambassador Tony Hall and everyone who offered “love, support and prayer” during Fowle’s detention.
North Korea said the “criminal” Fowle was freed as a “special measure” on the orders of leader Kim Jong-Un following “repeated requests” from US President Barack Obama.
In a brief report, the official KCNA news agency said Fowle, 56, had been handed over to the US authorities in accordance with relevant legal procedures.
But US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted Washington, which has no diplomatic ties with the North, had made no concessions to Pyongyang to win his release.
“No, there was no quid pro quo,” Kerry said during a visit to Berlin, adding the United States was “very concerned about the remaining American citizens who are in North Korea.”
Fowle was smiling broadly as he stepped off his plane carrying his luggage after arriving to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, US television showed.
But his family said Fowle’s thoughts were still with Americans Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae, who remain in North Korea having been sentenced to work in hard labour camps.
Tthe family said:
Although we are overjoyed by Jeff’s return home, we are mindful that Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller continue to be detained.
They added that they “understand the disappointment their families are experiencing today that their loved ones did not return home with Jeff.”
His family said he now needed time to adjust to being home.
Washington has condemned Pyongyang over the detentions, saying the men were being held as political hostages to extract diplomatic concessions.
The 24-year-old Miller was also arrested in April after he allegedly ripped up his visa at immigration and demanded asylum. Miller was sentenced to six years’ hard labour.
Korean-American Bae, 42, was arrested in November 2012 and sentenced to 15 years’ hard labour.
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You need to show that you have the wherewithal to deal with Covid 19
@Crocodylus Pontifex: well said. my first thought when I read this
@Crocodylus Pontifex: You need to have the wherewithal to distinguish the difference between a lie and a truth when the current Taoiseach passes air between his lips.
@Crocodylus Pontifex: that’s why the mask and pub delay is. Him saying he’s in Charge. It’s not for health reasons
Not going to report on Snoozefest, Journal, no? Nothing to say?
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: I just saw that, Eamon Ryan asleep in the daily and having to be woken up. Doubt it’ll land here.
@King B: *dail
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: Im more bothered about the vote he nearly slept through than the sleeping itself, same old GP towing the line heading for ruination..
@MickN: literally only keeping The Journal app for the comments section now.
@King B: well jack chambers proved he’s doing his job as government chief whip ………..he woke Ryan up to vote, and he’s on e150000 a year for that,.. Now I know how underpaid my mother was for waking me up every morning for school!
We need Leo back.. i take it the prime minister is going into isolation for 2 weeks when he comes back!
@Jennifer Kelly: essential worker unfortunately so no. and the advice is now to restrict your movements . not quarantine or self isolate
basically means tourists coming in can do what they want.
@Jennifer Kelly: *Taoiseach
@James Reardon: oh my god!!!
@James Reardon: you know the important things in life !
@James Reardon: it’s not everyone who can speak, pronounce or spell the Irish language so it’s perfectly ok to use the English translation….
@Jennifer Kelly: lol! Lol! Lol!
Be interested to see how the budget goes now the carrot of an EU recovery fund is in play.
Ireland has already rejected amendments that would see it become a net contributor instead of recipient. Italy continues to resist economic reforms but, now there’s a pile of cash can see the EU trying to push countries into compliance.
@Jack Inman: Exactly. Italy wants the money only in gifts without condition’s.
I hope that the frugal 4 don’t give in. Helping each other is necessary but if they get money than it’s not to much to ask for reforms.
Sure the EU can’t even deal with a dingy in the med. Hopefully after uk getting out it may start to crumble.
@Crispy Brown: no, no it won’t.
Now we want a strong message ??? Our mixed messages about face masks, travel, flights in and out, staycationing with “allowed” tourists from hot spots. He has a nerve !
He’s hardly in the job a wet week and he’s already passing the buck. Sounds too much like Trump and Boris. In 4 months during the height of the pandemic I don’t recall Leo passing the buck to anyone.
@2thFairy: no he just kicked it down the road for someone else to pick up….
That’s where the mask is coming from he’s trying to show the EU he’s in charge. By god we’re in trouble with him at the wheel
The EU are useless bureaucrats. They will only act if the either France or German are in trouble….
@London-Irish Senator: that was a useless statement, that one of yours.
The big question is why has there been no international cooperation on the coronavirus from day 1. Without it all efforts to contain the virus are ultimately futile. Likewise when does a country draw down its lifesaving economic gift from the eu. Is it before or after the second wave or second lockdown or the third or fourth?
Says he who is allowing tourists from one of the most infected countries in the world to fly into Ireland.
He should flipping well known
Bring Back Leo
@Are You For Real: are you for real.?
No harm having the dutch there driving a hard bargain. They turned a small swamp into one of the most sucessful countries in the world.
No mask for Michael , great example , not a clue
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