Release of Jeffrey Fowle
Release of Jeffrey Fowle
Press
Statement
Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson,
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 21,
2014
We can confirm that Jeffrey Fowle has been allowed to depart the DPRK and is on his way home to re-join his family. We welcome the DPRK’s decision to release him.
While this is a positive decision by the DPRK, we remain focused on the continued detention of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller and again call on the DPRK to immediately release them. The U.S. Government will continue to work actively on their cases.
We thank the Government of Sweden for the tireless efforts of the Embassy of Sweden in Pyongyang, which acts as our Protecting Power in the DPRK.
As a condition of his release, the DPRK authorities asked the United States Government to transport Mr. Fowle out of the country. The Department of Defense was able to provide transportation for Mr. Fowle in the time frame specified by the DPRK.
We will provide additional details about Mr. Fowle’s return home as we are able to do so.
ENDS