Report: Jimmy Carter to Visit North Korea to Win Release of U.S. Citizen

Politico reports that former President Jimmy Carter is “expected to head North Korea to try and win the release of a U.S. citizen being held there.”

The citizen, Kenneth Bae, was arrested while “leading a tour group in the country and sentenced in May to 15 years hard labor.” North Korea claims Bae was working to overthrow the government, while Bae says he was simply in the country as a Christian missionary.

Carter has had some success working with the North Korean government in these situations. In 2010, he “helped earn the release” of Boston native Aijalon Mahli Gomes, “who had been charged with illegally entering [North Korea].” 

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.