Lynnwood man reportedly being held in North Korea

A Lynnwood man reportedly has been in custody for more than a month in North Korea, according to news reports.

Kenneth Bae, a Korean American and U.S. citizen, is the owner of Nations Tour, a company that focuses on tours to the northeast region of North Korea, according to NKnews.org, a website focusing North Korean news. The news organization reported that the Nations Tour’s website has been taken down.

CNN reported that the U.S. government does not believe that Bae, who has traveled to North Korea several times before, is being mistreated. Bae has been involved with a Protestant group, a U.S. official told the network.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in her daily press briefing Tuesday that, “We’re obviously aware of these reports that a U.S. citizen has been detained in North Korea. We obviously have no higher priority than the welfare of our citizens.”

Nuland declined further comment on Bae’s case because of “privacy considerations.”

A South Korean newspaper reported that Bae had been arrested by security authorities in North Korea in early November. Bae, 44, entered the northeastern port city of Rajin, according to the newspaper.

Bae was detained by North Korean authorities and has been questioned after a computer hard disk was found, it quoted an unidentified source as saying. The source told the paper that the hard disk might have contained sensitive information about North Korea.

Sweden is lobbying for Bae’s release, Nuland said in the briefing.

“We have no representation in Pyongyang, (North Korea),” Nuland said. “The Embassy of Sweden acts as our protecting power for issues involving U.S. citizens in North Korea.”

Sinae Cheh, a Korean American who serves as the artistic director of the Morning Star Korean Cultural Center in Lynnwood, said she doesn’t think she knows Bae.

“We have a large Korean community in south Snohomish County and most of us are affiliated with Christian organizations,” Cheh said. “Not knowing the whole story, I would say that at this point we should not overreact and be too worried about Kenneth Bae. Many of us have information on our computers whether we intend to or not.”

About six years ago, the Rev. Phillip Jun Buck, then 68, of Everett, was released from a Chinese prison after more than a year. The Korean American missionary was providing humanitarian aid to North Korean refugees in northeastern China when police arrested him.

State Rep. Cindy Ryu, a Democrat in the 32nd Legislative District, said that it could be that people in the south Snohomish County Korean community are not as familiar with Bae’s Americanized name.

“They probably know him by his Korean name,” said Ryu, of Shoreline.

And Bae could be billing himself as a tour director when his true work is as a Christian missionary, she said.

“Many of us are third- and fourth-generation Christians and many of our pastors are originally from North Korea,” Ryu said. “We want to visit our home country, but in North Korea you cannot say you are a missionary.”

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.