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| North Korea blames US for collapse of Kenneth Bae talks | North Korea blames US for collapse of Kenneth Bae talks |
| (17 days later) | |
| North Korea said it rescinded its invitation for a US envoy to visit the country to seek the freedom of American detainee Kenneth Bae because Washington perpetrated a "grave provocation" by allegedly mobilising nuclear-capable bombers during recent military drills with Seoul. | North Korea said it rescinded its invitation for a US envoy to visit the country to seek the freedom of American detainee Kenneth Bae because Washington perpetrated a "grave provocation" by allegedly mobilising nuclear-capable bombers during recent military drills with Seoul. |
| Bob King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights, had been scheduled to travel to Pyongyang on Friday for talks on Bae, who has been held since November accused of committing "hostile acts". Bae, a 45-year-old tour operator and Christian missionary, was sentenced in April to 15 years of hard labour. | Bob King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights, had been scheduled to travel to Pyongyang on Friday for talks on Bae, who has been held since November accused of committing "hostile acts". Bae, a 45-year-old tour operator and Christian missionary, was sentenced in April to 15 years of hard labour. |
| An unidentified North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in remarks carried by state media late on Saturday that his country had intended to allow King's visit even though the US and South Korea were conducting annual military drills. But the US "beclouded the hard-won atmosphere of humanitarian dialogue in a moment" by allegedly infiltrating B-52H strategic bombers into the sky above the peninsula during the exercises. He called it "the most blatant nuclear blackmail against us". | An unidentified North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in remarks carried by state media late on Saturday that his country had intended to allow King's visit even though the US and South Korea were conducting annual military drills. But the US "beclouded the hard-won atmosphere of humanitarian dialogue in a moment" by allegedly infiltrating B-52H strategic bombers into the sky above the peninsula during the exercises. He called it "the most blatant nuclear blackmail against us". |
| The annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills, which ended on Friday, were computer-simulated war games that the US and South Korea say are defensive nature but which North Korea calls a rehearsal for an invasion. The US military command in Seoul did not immediately comment on the North Korean statement. | The annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills, which ended on Friday, were computer-simulated war games that the US and South Korea say are defensive nature but which North Korea calls a rehearsal for an invasion. The US military command in Seoul did not immediately comment on the North Korean statement. |
| Earlier this year, the US took the unusual step of sending nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 bombers to participate in springtime military drills with South Korea as tension was running high after a string of warlike rhetoric from North Korea, including vows to launch nuclear war. The flights drew a furious response from Pyongyang. Animosities have since eased, with Pyongyang moderating its rhetoric and seeking diplomacy with Seoul and Washington. | Earlier this year, the US took the unusual step of sending nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 bombers to participate in springtime military drills with South Korea as tension was running high after a string of warlike rhetoric from North Korea, including vows to launch nuclear war. The flights drew a furious response from Pyongyang. Animosities have since eased, with Pyongyang moderating its rhetoric and seeking diplomacy with Seoul and Washington. |
| US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Friday the US was "surprised and disappointed by North Korea's decision" and remained gravely concerned about Bae's health. Bae's family expressed disappointment but said they were holding on to faith that North Korean and US diplomats would resume talks soon. | US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Friday the US was "surprised and disappointed by North Korea's decision" and remained gravely concerned about Bae's health. Bae's family expressed disappointment but said they were holding on to faith that North Korean and US diplomats would resume talks soon. |
| Bae is said to have multiple health problems. He is the sixth American known to have been detained in North Korea since 2009. The others were eventually allowed to leave without serving their terms, with some releases coming after prominent Americans, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, visited North Korea. | Bae is said to have multiple health problems. He is the sixth American known to have been detained in North Korea since 2009. The others were eventually allowed to leave without serving their terms, with some releases coming after prominent Americans, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, visited North Korea. |
| North Korea has previously used detained Americans as bargaining chips in its standoff with the US over its nuclear and missile programs. International disarmament talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been stalled since 2009. | North Korea has previously used detained Americans as bargaining chips in its standoff with the US over its nuclear and missile programs. International disarmament talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been stalled since 2009. |
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