State Department says Jeffrey Fowle was home Tuesday after negotiators left Pyongyang, and that the US was working to free two others held by North Korea

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

North Korea unexpectedly and suddenly freed an American citizen, Jeffrey Fowle on Tuesday after holding him for nearly six months, the US State Department announced.

The State Department deputy spokeswoman, Marie Harf, said Fowle was on his way home on Tuesday after negotiators left Pyongyang. She said the US is still trying to free two other Americans, Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae.



Confirming the news, the White House welcomed Fowle’s release and thanked Sweden for helping arrange his departure from North Korea. There was no immediate explanation for the release of Fowle, who was quickly whisked to the US territory of Guam before beginning the journey back to his wife and three children in Miamisburg, Ohio.

Officials drew attention to two other Americans who continue to be held by authorities and declined to answer initial questions about the circumstances of his release and any possible negotiations.

“We remain focused on the continued detention on Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller,” said the press secretary, Josh Earnest.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The US plane carrying Jeffrey Fowle at Pyongyang airport. Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

Associated Press journalists in Pyongyang spotted the US government plane at the capital’s international airport on Tuesday. The White House confirmed Fowle was released.

“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,” the State Department said in a statement.

“As a condition of his release, the DPRK authorities asked the United States government to transport Mr Fowle out of the country. The Department of Defense was able to provide transportation for Mr Fowle in the time frame specified by the DPRK.”

Fowle’s wife, Tatyana, “screamed when I told her,” said family attorney Timothy Tepe, who received a call from the State Department with word of the release. Tepe said Fowle himself called his wife soon afterwards.



“She is ecstatic, excited, use whatever word you want,” Tepe said.

Harf said Fowle was seen by doctors and appeared to be in good medical health. She declined to give more details about his release except to thank the government of Sweden, which has an embassy in Pyongyang, for its “tireless efforts.”

She would not say whether any American officials had intervened directly with the North Koreans.

Fowle had been held in North Korea for nearly six months, accused of leaving a Bible at a nightclub in May.



Miller, Fowle and Bae were allowed to speak briefly with the Associated Press last month in Pyongyang. All said they believe the only solution to their situation is for a US representative to come to North Korea to make a direct appeal.

That has often been North Korea’s bargaining chip in the past, when senior statesmen including former President Clinton made trips to Pyongyang to secure the release of detainees.