Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                   Pyongyang Sets Trial Date for US Detainee

   by VOA News

   North Korea has set September 14 as the trial date for Matthew Miller,
   one of three Americans detained in the country.

   State-run news agency KCNA reported the information on Sunday. The
   California man was arrested in April after he allegedly tore up his
   visa on his arrival in Pyongyang and demanded asylum.

   Miller and the other two Americans -- Kenneth Bae and Jeffrey Fowle --
   were brought before U.S. journalists recently and called for a high
   profile U.S. representative to visit North Korea and make a direct
   appeal for their release.

   Bae, who is serving a 15-year sentence, said his health is failing, and
   Miller described his own situation as "very urgent." Miller said he
   will not learn what the charges against him are until his hearing.
   Fowle said he had no complaints about his treatment but that he was
   becoming desperate. He is still awaiting trial.

   The journalists from CNN and the Associated Press, who were on an
   official visit to North Korea, say they were summoned to conduct the
   unplanned interviews in Pyongyang. They were given five minutes with
   each man.

   Bae's sister Terri Chung said it is clear from the video interview that
   her brother is in a lot of physical pain and under great stress. She
   has appealed to North Korean officials to show mercy and release him.

   The Christian missionary was arrested in November 2012 while leading a
   group of tourists in the northern city of Rason. The following April,
   he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for "hostile acts" against
   the regime in Pyongyang.

   Fowle, who entered North Korea in late April, was detained in May on
   charges of perpetrating activities that violate North Korean law.
   Diplomatic sources have said he left a bible in his hotel room.

   In previous cases involving Americans in North Korea, they were
   released after visits by high profile former U.S. officials.

   Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were freed in 2009 during a special
   humanitarian visit by former U.S. president Bill Clinton. This year,
   the United States tried to send a senior diplomatic envoy to secure
   Bae's release, but Pyongyang canceled the visit.

   The U.S. State Department has said it will leave "no stone unturned" in
   efforts to free the American men. A spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, refused to
   give any details on what U.S. officials are doing, but said Swedish
   authorities visited the three men several times between May and August.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-sets-trial-for-us-detaine
   e-matthew-miller/2441324.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-sets-trial-for-us-detainee-matthew-miller/2441324.html