Jeffrey Fowle, an American held since May in North Korea for allegedly leaving a bible at a club for foreign sailors, has arrived at a U.S. Air Force Base in his home state of Ohio after Pyongyang released him on a “special dispensation.”
Fowle, 56, landed early today at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton. He disembarked carrying two bags and was met with embraces from family members.
As we reported on Tuesday, Fowle is one of three Americans that had been known to be held in North Korea. Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller are still held. Initial reports said that Fowle had left the bible in a hotel room and that his arrest came in June.
North Korea’s state media said Pyongyang decided to free Fowle on a “special dispensation” after “repeated requests” from President Obama.
“The criminal was handed over to the U.S. side according to a relevant legal procedure,” KCNA said.
Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in Berlin, said there had been no quid pro quo involved in securing Fowle’s release from North Korean custody.
“We hope that the dynamics can develop in the next weeks, months perhaps where we could get back to talks and the United States is absolutely prepared to do that,” Kerry said, according to Reuters.
Kerry said Washington is in contact with the families of Bae and Miller and was hoping for their release soon.
9(MDEwMjQ0ODM1MDEzNDk4MTEzNjU3NTRhYg004))
Read original article – Published October 22, 2014 7:05 AM ET
American Freed By North Korea Arrives Home
