The Washington man who has been imprisoned in North Korea for more than a year and a half spoke Monday morning.
For five minutes, Kenneth Bae of Lynnwood was allowed to talk with a reporter.
Bae said repeatedly that he needs help from the U.S. government.
Although Bae said he is being treated humanely at the prison where he's serving 15 years of hard labor, he also said his health is failing and he needs to be released.
The American who had lived in Lynnwood said he was a Christian missionary when he was arrested for allegedly setting up bases in China to try to overthrow the North Korean government.
He had been in China since 2005.
On Monday, he said he works eight hours a day, six days a week, and while he is treated fairly, he's also very sick.
"I do need help from the U.S. government and my health is failing. Since the last time I was transferred from the hospital to the camp I lost 15 pounds or more and it’s been very difficult to stay in the camp right now, so I do ask the U.S. government and people out there to really put in an effort to send somebody," said Bae.
Bae said it’s mainly his back that's causing him debilitating pain.
Bae said he didn't realize he was doing anything illegal when he was on a five-day tour of a special economic zone in North Korea back in 2012.
He's been imprisoned there longer than any other American since the Korean War.
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