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The United States on Friday expressed disappointment at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s canceled invitation for a special American envoy, who has focused his upcoming visit on securing the release of an American citizen.
DPRK on Friday canceled its invitation to a U.S. envoy who has sought the release of a U.S. citizen being held by Pyongyang, according to media reports.
News of the planned trip by Robert King, envoy on North Korea human rights issues, had raised hopes that Kenneth Bae, a 44-year- old American who has been prisoner in the DPRK since last November, might be released.
Bae has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor by the DPRK, accused of subversion.
The U.S.-South Korea large-scale joint military exercises, as the most blatant "nuclear blackmail" against the DPRK, "has gone far from the country's tolerance and patience, and beclouded the atmosphere of humanitarian dialogue," the official KCNA news agency quoted a spokesman of the DPRK Foreign Ministry as saying.
Although the United Stated repeatedly flied B-52H strategic bombers into the sky above the Korean Peninsula, "we have exercised utmost self-restraint to prevent a vicious cycle of escalating tension at any cost," said the spokesman in a statement.
"We intended to accept the proposal for a visit by a special envoy of the U.S. State Department and have a sincere discussion on the issue of a sentenced U.S. citizen a humanitarian viewpoint," it said.
"We are surprised and disappointed by North Korea's decision," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf of the U.S. said in a statement, noting Washington was informed of the canceled visit of Robert King, an envoy charged with human rights issues related to the DPRK.
King has planned to visit Pyongyang on Friday and Saturday following his tour of China, the Republic of Korea and Japan. He was aimed at mainly seeking freedom for Kenneth Bae, a 45-year-old Korean-American man who was detained in the DPRK in November and sentenced in late April to 15 years of hard labor for "hostile acts" against the country.
Bae has been hospitalized recently as he reportedly suffers a number of health problems.
"We have sought clarification from the DPRK about its decision and have made every effort so that Ambassador King's trip could continue as planned or take place at a later date," Harf said.
"We remain gravely concerned about Mr. Bae's health and we continue to urge the DPRK authorities to grant Mr. Bae special amnesty and immediate release on humanitarian grounds," she added.
