It has been confirmed that Christian missionary Kenneth Bae has been transferred from hospital to a labor camp in North Korea.
CNN reported that the State Department is very concerned about the recent move, particularly for the health of Bae, who has been detained since 2012.
Swedish representatives reportedly visited Bae in the labor camp, and his family has been updated of the latest development. Bae was reportedly transferred back to the labor camp on Jan. 20 after a brief hospital stay.
The State Department continues to urge for Bae's release and has sent ambassadors to negotiate his release.
Bae's move to the labor camp comes a day after U.S. President Barack Obama urged North Korea to release Bae during the National Prayer Breakfast. "We pray for Kenneth Bae, a Christian missionary who has been held in North Korea for 15 months," Obama said. "His family wants him home, and the United States will continue to do everything in our power to secure his release because Kenneth Bae deserves to be free."
Bae ran a tour group for Americans and Canadians near North Korea when he was arrested in November 2012 for "hostile acts" against the state and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He organized the small tour groups to bring commerce to North Korea.
