At the invitation of the D.P.R.K. government, Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues Ambassador Robert King will travel to Pyongyang August 30 on a humanitarian mission focused on securing the release of U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae.

Mr. Bae was arrested in the D.P.R.K. in November 2012 and was convicted April 30 by the D.P.R.K. Supreme Court of committing hostile acts against North Korea. As the U.S. Government has on a number of occasions since the April 30 verdict, Ambassador King will request the D.P.R.K. pardon Mr. Bae and grant him special amnesty on humanitarian grounds so that he can be reunited with his family and seek medical treatment.