American Matthew Miller to be tried in North Korean court Sept 14

Detained American Matthew Miller will be tried next Sunday, North Korean state media said, less than a week after the detainee made a rare foreign media appearance to plead for help.

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief dispatch Sunday that the Supreme Court decided to “judge” Miller on Sept. 14. It did not elaborate on specific charges against him, although past reports have accused him of hostile acts.

Miller, 24, was detained after entering the country April 10, when he tore up his tourist visa at the airport and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency has reported.

In a brief interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang last week, Miller and two other Americans held by North Korea, Jeffrey Fowle and Kenneth Bae, called for Washington to send a high-ranking U.S. representative to make a direct appeal for their freedom.

Miller said he has met with the Swedish ambassador and been allowed to make phone calls to his relatives.

[AP]

This entry was posted in Humanitarian Aid and Relief, Prison Camps by Grant Montgomery.