Seoul: The United States has offered to send its special envoy to North Korea to Pyongyang to secure the release of American missionary Kenneth Bae after he appeared in front of journalists asking Washington to help him get home.

"We hope this decision by DPRK authorities to allow Kenneth Bae to meet with reporters signals their willingness to release him," a US administration official told Reuters on Monday. "We have offered to send ambassador [Robert] King to Pyongyang to secure Mr Bae's release. We have asked the North Koreans this and await their early response."

Mr Bae appeared at a news conference in Pyongyang on Monday and appealed to the US government to negotiate with Pyongyang to secure his release.

"I believe that my problem can be solved by close co-operation and agreement between the American government and the government of this country," the Christian missionary was quoted as saying.